ISSUE NO. 27
October 2026
•

Creative

This section publishes creative contributions mostly from currently and formerly incarcerated people. It includes short-stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, art, and much more.

If you have something creative to submit to us, we would love to read it, or see it, and publish it in About Time – please write to us!

Latest

By Janali

Cold blows the wind tonight, sweetheart, cold are the drops of rain, cold are the four walls of my cell, so cold I shall remain.

ISSUE NO. 28
•
2 MIN READ
By Elijah

These “emotions” that carry me. It’s from these that you see me. Let not what you see, be all I can be. I’m so much more, this isn’t all.

ISSUE NO. 28
•
1 MIN READ
By Gema

A girl trying to find her soul, an escape with rope and toe up a tree, a knot a swing.

ISSUE NO. 28
•
2 MIN READ
By Minh

No mail, no bail, just jail. Hail and rain, rain and suffering, silently ingrained.

ISSUE NO. 28
•
2 MIN READ
By Emily

Shout out to all you maintenance workers, from painting to plumbing, youse know you’re the reasons these places don’t collapse in on us!

ISSUE NO. 28
•
1 MIN READ

Previous Editions

ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
The Silent Path
By Denis

On an icy day, we’ll meet again, on a silent path, free from pain. No greetings spoken, no sparks to fly, just a quiet knowing in each other’s eye.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
Beautiful Souls
By RM

Why should you suffer for my pain. Knowledge in this I should try to gain. Does it feel I have left you alone? It may feel I have cut you to the bone.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
Losing Control
By Goodj

The calls we hear every day, whether guilty or claiming you’re innocent, there’s a price we each must pay. “It’s a privilege not a right” you’ll hear the screws say, but the moment you’re behind those bars, your control is taken away.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
I Will Always Love You
By Jack

A poem for the one true love of my life, I wish I could change the past, but I can only change my future.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
Mistakes (For My Mother Toni)
By Megan

She saw his will and was convinced, she listened to his lies and was convinced, she looked into his eyes and trusted his smiles, she was convinced.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
Imperious
By Belly

I yearn to spend loving time with my Mother, to reunite with my sister and brother, to introduce my kin to the new man I am.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
Let Down
By Matthew

I hear the sirens wailing, I know the cops are coming, to my door, I let down my family, even my kids, friends and all.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
Family Tree
By Erin

How would it be, to be set free, yes, I’d smile with glee, no guilty plea.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 13
August 2025
Sound Advice
By A.S.P.

Life is only short my son, with so many paths to take, life is an uphill struggle, with every step you make. That’s why you must treasure life, with every second of the day, because you may never know, when it’s your turn to go away.

2 MIN READ
ISSUE NO. 12
July 2025
Against All Odds: The Story of a Little Shrub
By Sam

Once upon a time, a sleepy little shrub lived a contented but impoverished life in a quiet shady corner of a garden. Although the little shrub did not complain, it was much smaller than most of its other friends, and its branches were thin and twig-like.

6 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

Get All the Latest News From About Time in Your Inbox

Be the first to read each edition online and receive two newsletters each month filled with news stories, experiences, creativity and the voices of people in prison around the country.

X

X

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.