Words Unlocked

Every day this week, The Imprint is publishing the winners from this year’s Words Unlocked Poetry Competition. The contest is held each year by BreakFree Education, and features the work of students in juvenile facilities around the country.

Every day this week, The Imprint is publishing the winners from this year’s Words Unlocked Poetry Competition. The contest is held each year by BreakFree Education, and features the work of students in juvenile facilities around the country.

Every day this week, The Imprint is publishing the winners from this year’s Words Unlocked Poetry Competition. The contest is held each year by BreakFree Education, and features the work of students in juvenile facilities around the country.

All month we have been featuring the top entries from the 2019 Words Unlocked poetry contest hosted by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings. This poem, by D.A.C., was the winning entry.

This poem was one of two 2nd place winners in the 2019 Words Unlocked poetry contest hosted by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings.    I’m locked up, choked, covered, and tied by iron and steel chains, Chains that cannot be fought by strength but by brains, These chains have bound around my body, mind and soul, Two-to-three years of my growing adolescence have they stole, Too many times have I had these metal snakes biting into my skin, Sharp teeth digging at my wrists and ankles digging deeper within.

This poem was one of two 2nd place winners in the 2019 Words Unlocked poetry contest hosted by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings.    I am white and crystalized, My world is through the eyes of people that see dark skies, I take him or her through it all, I am running through the veins when they overdose and fall, I love the addicts who come back for more, I get inside little girls and close the door, I don’t want to be me but I’m too scared to die, I can see everyone lie, I watch men rape girls and sell me, I am hard to make so they pay their fee, I see the men who think their able to treat them and me this way, I know it’s all because they shoot me into their bodies every day, My name is tweak but the guys with the flashing lights call me methamphetamine, Why live when people only want you to use, I want to win but they always get caught and I lose, I always end up taking a family away, Why can’t they just love me without all these prices to pay?

This poem was the third place winner in the 2019 Words Unlocked poetry contest hosted by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings.    A place, where fear is non-existent.

This poem was a highly commended entry in the 2019 Words Unlocked poetry contest hosted by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings.    As she flies higher and higher She finally feels free again No Worries No problems Just the occasional bird Also free of worries and problems As she reaches the summit She has her life planned out Her dreams Her passion Her responsibility All being shone before her eyes But what she knows from previous life lessons Is that what goes up must come down But she will not lose her touch She is smart She is talented She is unique Free of flaws and imperfections She is what every girl wants to be She is unstoppable She is determined She will not let anything get in between Her goals Her dreams Her life As I awake from my dream I sit up And I look around my cell Disappointment Sadness Failure   Cloud my thoughts And fill my brain I want to be Who I am meant to be I am meant to be Who I am created to be But I’m created to be me So that’s who I’ll be.

This poem was a highly commended entry in the 2019 Words Unlocked poetry contest hosted by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings.    I’m the wind in a golden Baritone Blowing away the pain.