The journal of Joshua Devore

Table of Contents:

Entry 1

Sometimes during the day I will just lay on the hard cement floor of my one-man cell like a corpse and listen to all the sounds around me. I plug my vents so I can hear better. I stare up at the ceiling often, letting my mind drift. Today I was taking in the barren white walls on both sides of me and couldn't help but realize how much my cell resembles a coffin. While I'm lying there listening to other convicts yell out their doors, cops keys jinging, toilets flushing, inside my head was a voice and it keep asking myself "How did I end up here - like this?" By now I've blocked everything out around me and as this question persists, I catch a uncontrollable shiver down my spine. I realized I never want to die in a place so cold. After pondering this for a minute, it's clear that such a demise could be so easy to attain. Especially with the way I've been living my life thus far. Reckless and carefree!! Somethings gotta give...

In reality there is nothing cool about growing up "state raised". All my fantasies and dreams about love and success have been launced right here - from within one of these dust bunny-infested coffins. Each time I catch a spark of inspiration that motivates me to go out and take on the wrld, I'm bitch-slapped in the face by a steel door. All that inspiration is forced to go on hold. It's put away on my mental wishlist. It's stored in my memory banks. But at least I have a release date. Some don't have that option and the outcome of that is a cold reality. So I get thru each day with a positive outlook towards my future...

  
	"And as I sit"  
  
I sit here slowly  
Thinkin' of all that oppose me  
Checkin' the pressure from these cops  
Snoopin' through my mail  
Invadin' my thoughts  
And when I sleep  
I attempt to reach some peace  
But still they creep  
Makin' sure that I'm watched  
And in their eyes I can see that I'm slime  
Such is life in a swamp  
Of beady eyes, badges, and plots  
So I'm cuffed up now  
Shuffling hallways instead of  
Cruising the streets  
Phone home  
Collect calls and tear-stained cheeks  
Freedom deserted  
Alerted by keys now instead of a siren  
Brick walls cast shadows  
That hide big tough men cryin'  
Babies to a system corrupt  
Hard-headed crooks with mean mug looks  
Lifestyle chasin' the buck  
And as I sit...  
A new conscious contemplating the game  
My insides change  
On the outside I maintain thru  
Convict fame  
Gettin' older, my heart's much bolder  
I admit things just ain't the same  
In the mirror  
My reflection makes it clear...  
Tired of lying  
But there's no point in given up  
And not trying  
So I elevate my mind to help me pass the time  
Keep climbing that mountain!  
Always keeping track, constantly countin'  
Never stoppin'  
Plottin' productive ways to get paid  
Upon the release of the dusty cage  
Ideas debating  
Contemplating daily  
Patiently waiting  
I got the urge to feed the need to plead my case  
"Let me go!!"  
"Leave me alone!!"  
I need my own space to get in the zone  
This place is too slow  
Drip...  
Drip...  
Drip... Like molasses  
I'm bypassin' these faces  
Laughin' outta spite as these cowards  
Unite and kiss the mans asses  
Words of insight  
Using rhymes to express my mind of times  
When my plight was hectic  
Getting strength when life seems  
Shitty like a septic  
Instead of seekin' pity I accept it  
We've all made many mistakes  
My life is like a book written by  
A pencil with no eraser  
Each page I'm scribbling my guts out  
Onto this scratch pad piece of paper  
  
		Words of Insight