365 days

it was a year

of hard time, little sleep

or food,

no love

or affection, little

conversation.

the bed was

hard,

the walls and floor

cold.

there was no trust,

no

compassion,

no respect or honor.

just a year

of hard time,

punishment

without a crime.

i scratched

the days out

on the walls

of my cell

and then it was over.

free at last.

free last.

i'm not going back

to that living hell.