Dan’s Drawing
A drawing of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, sent to us by Dan.
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!

A drawing of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, sent to us by Dan.
Often I try to self-reflect which turns into waves of rings around me. This picture reflects my days in general; life is static, surrounded by waves around.
The cage stands bold, with its steel-clad mesh. For within its grip, it’s us it holds. Ten foot walls, of cold creme concrete. For outside we muster, like horses in stalls.
I know you think you’re broken far too much to ever heal properly, like all those other folk that make life seem so real.
“The colours of the rainbow so pretty in the sky." The colours of my jocks lying, on a bench. Uncovered by shutters. Unarmed waiting snakes.
You begin to scream and shout. Roll about time to let it all out. Emotions running wild from the hurt and pain. It’s starting to hurt my brain.
Do you feel confined, please sympathise my pain. The lack of understanding, I find it very vain. Just imagine freedom, independence stripped from you, how would you feel and what would you do.
Another day another cell, can’t believe I’m locked in a cell. Imagine this is what it’s like living in hell, lawyers to pay but no money and nothing to sell!

Belief in a future, they do persist, for everyone has the right to exist.

Locked down for the third time this week, sixth time this past fortnight, with Bird of Prey playing on Rage, the shitty fuzzy speakers on the shitty fuzzy TV barely able to conjure up something that resembles bass.

Butterflies, can be the colour of your eyes. They start life as tiny eggs, finally having wings and six legs.

An ode to our last 750-gram powdered milk, taken from our treasured weekly Buy-Up Sheet.

Facing the darkness, the pain and cold travelling through the body, the soul taking me back to when I played alone when hell exists, the place my home I spend years, months, days wearing the mask trying to pretend there is no fear or pain.

The big idea behind this painting is to display a very strong, tough Australian sportswoman. Through her athleticism she has helped to inspire a huge number of young Australian girls to take up soccer as their favourite game.

As I come back to jail, I walk through that familiar door, I promised my mum and kids, I wouldn’t break the law.

Behold my friend, I am heroin, known by all as the destroyer of men. From where I came no one knows, a far away place where the poppies grow.

It’s been almost 10 years now, since my life has changed. For better or worse, nothing will ever be the same.

I fall, twisting and spinning in duress, a darkness complete, vast and eternal. An emptiness felt, thick as molasses, noises and sounds rend my mind infernal.


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