“I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.”
Robert Browning Hamilton
Received another heart-felt letter from my imprisoned uncle! Lamented how proud he was of my journalistic successes.
Wish that I could say the same for him!
Wish that I could hear those words instead of reading those words. Wish that I could feel his hugs. Wish that I could laugh at his jokes, impersonations, and silliness. Wish that I could debate with him regarding the outcome of the presidential election. Wish that I could listen to him pray. Wish that I could…
Sprinkled throughout Leon’s letter was a litany of woulda’s, shoulda’s, and coulda’s. Hmmm, wonder why he didn’t take his own sagely advice when he tasted freedom.
Tragically, like so many incarcerated black males, Leon listened to his PEERS. The acronym for PEERS is “People Encouraging Errors, Ridiculousness, and Stupidity!”
Can I get an amen?
Now, like the other one million incarcerated black males, Leon sits with regrets, disgust, and shame!
Preach, girl!
Listen inmates, while we have apathy for your plight, the burdens of life are all encompassing and often time does not avail itself to nurse your wounds.
Listen inmates, while we have sympathy regarding the ruthlessness of the judicial system and are sorry that you are public property of the penal system, your family is left to struggle with your abandoned responsibilities coupled with the management of our own “rough and tumble” daily lives.
Listen inmates, while we have empathy that your habitation consist of rogues, murderers, liars, folks of ill repute, and other screwed-up people, it was a series of YOUR dumb choices which netted you this funky outcome.
Finally inmates, your infamy has caused immeasurable pain, emotional stress, needless worries, unspeakable disgrace, and a permanent stain against the family’s name, heritage, and rich legacy.
Show me your friends and I can predict your future!
Leon was preordained to live his final days in vim and not as a 72-year old villain but the mystique of his PEERS and the search for significance seduced him.
After reading his last letter, he has learned that prison is a “pressure cooker” waiting to give you a “crash course” by reminding you 24/7 of your stupidity, ridiculousness, and the errors of your ways!
And, so will Sorrow!
