I spent Christmas day watching a marathon of Anthony Bourdain specials. An imperfect, broken hero of mine. He took his own life and the world is poorer for it. I don’t judge him for his final action, any more than I would judge any one person for any one action in the vast tapestry ofContinue reading “To those thinking of giving up”
Goodbyes
12-10-25., 9:20 at night… Missing you all already. Life may not be fair, but we aren’t under any obligation to help make it that way. All of my love and friendship to the Whitties that, in every conversation and every moment shared these last few months, brought light and solidarity to me in a veryContinue reading “Goodbyes”
Cartoon
What’s your favorite cartoon? Favorite cartoon? That would have to be “Home Movies”. Loren Bouchard’s early project about three kids and the films they make with the help of some strange friends and their VHS camcorder. Early appearance of H Jon Benjamin who voices Coach McGuirk, a criminally irresponsible soccer coach. It took a fewContinue reading “Cartoon”
Why I Have to Mourn
I started writing about all of my friends and brothers that I’ve lost over the last couple of years, just from this small three unit space. The list itself is too long, and I refuse to just put names into the ether without telling the world a little about each one. Alex was the latest.Continue reading “Why I Have to Mourn”
What everyone should know
What’s something you believe everyone should know. That your life has meaning. That it’s NOT some insignificant little nothing within the vastness of an unfathomable cosmos. Value isn’t assigned to things that are common. Deep and unconditional love isn’t valued because it happens every day to everyone all of the time. I saw a hummingbirdContinue reading “What everyone should know”
Faith
faith to believethere is goodnessis enoughfor tonight.
Delights
The sun has set.Behind mountains green and black slopes crisped with silver snow.Once mighty now the blue bows down,dies,decays.From its bones the gloaming glows bruised and bloody hued. It’s a miracle, but they don’t notice. Wrapped ’round a fire built high for warmth.Smokey musk stings eyes alight with flames whilelaughter rides the wind and windsContinue reading “Delights”
Courage
This piece of writing placed second in the 2024 PEN America Prison Writing Awards. Courage I don’t remember the Mexican kid’s name anymore but I do remember his age which was 18. He looked young, younger than 18 although he carried himself like a man much older. Let me clarify, he was young and stupidContinue reading “Courage”
What’s left
When the gulfsbetween youand everything elsebecome absoluteand the terrorsof the inconsequentialare unsheathed,silly little things.here is how it should be.how it once was.perhapshow it could be,could have been.When it endswill it be enough to haveknownwhat was possible?It will have to beIt will have to be.silly littlethings This poem was published in the PEN America Zine –Continue reading “What’s left”
How Do I Celebrate the Holidays?
How do you celebrate holidays? I don’t. Not anymore. When you are incarcerated, holidays aren’t provided by a calendar. They are wrenched out of the jaws of a numbing monotony heavy with the potential for violence. Some people celebrate holidays when they happen. Many do not. Did Sisyphus get a birthday when he got toContinue reading “How Do I Celebrate the Holidays?”
Robert Hiraeth 