Film Screening – “Living with Life”

VI Prison Project’s Own Radio Show

“Slow Tears”

I look up
as tears roll by slowly down my cheek
I think about better days
and wonder if I’ll feel that way again
you talk to me with the sweet lovely voice
That I know so very well
always serious, so deep and insightful
as though your always in control

But not today not now
Now I can imagine your so scared
Like for once you don’t have the answer
I think about you thinking deep about what you always do
Hoping to understand and why you said those things you did

I wonder for a moment
If I shall wake in the morning and be revealed
you look at me
with a confusion I have never seen.
Slowly pulls me toward you and wipe the tears
from my cheek!!!

– Alie Benjamin
Virgin Islands Prisoner at Keen Mountain Correctional Center
Oakwood, VA

Look Up!

Look up… Because in times like these your very life may depend on it.  Some time ago ‘Jah’ showed me that a spirit of weariness is trying to work its way into our lives through all the pressure and bad news that surrounds us.  It’s working to get our eyes off the word ‘Jah’ by bombarding us with negative forces.  Its trying to get us to look down at defeat instead of up at ‘Jah’.

If you let that happen, your spirit man will begin to lose his dominion.  And the Word tells us what the results of that is.  It says you’ll be wearied and faint in your minds. ‘Jah’ put it this way in Mark 4.  He said that when the cares of the world enter into your heart and mind, they’ll choke the Word and cause it to become unfruitful.  And since your faith is the product of the Word, that means your faith will wither.  Once that happens you are headed for disaster. What can you don to stop this chain reaction of weariness?

Look up!  Get your eyes back on ‘Jah’.  I remember on the field of athletic competition that when an opponent allowed himself to drop his head, he was no longer dangerous.  So keep your head up, keep considering ‘Jah’ the author and finisher of your faith.  Consider Him instead of the cares of this world.

Consider what ‘Jah’ says in His Words.  Be moved by the thoughts of ‘Jah’.  Let His thoughts become your thoughts.  Look up! Get your eyes off the circumstances around you and onto your Heavenly Source.  Don’t be afraid you’re going to lose everything.  ‘Jah’ is your source, not the world.  He can take care of you, regardless of what happens around you.

If you’ve gotten weary lately, begin to lift your eyes.  Raise your head up instead of looking down. ‘Jah is up. The Devil is down – under your feet
Look up!  Isaiah 40:21-31

-Arturo Cruz Sr.
Virgin Islands Prisoner at Wallens Ridge State Prison
Big Stone Gap, VA

Untitled

The Virgin Islands, root of
all dreams, It’s like hope
and fire.

Three crowns in the Caribbean
surrounded by clear blue water.

The Virgin Islands, St. Croix
St. Thomas and St. John
Gorgeous as rubies with all its
splendor.

Land of no owners, where people
are humble and kind.

A proud people who won’t give
it up for anything.

The Virgin Islands this is
where I have my family
and friends.

-Julio Perez
Virgin Islands’ Prisoner at Wallens Ridge State Prison
Big Stone Gap, VA

BLESS THE SALIENT SOLDIERS

YOU WHO ARE HEAR TODAY, ABUNDANTLY
EXPRESS YOUR INFINITY OF DEDICATION,
AND OF YOUR LOVE AND COMMITMENT;

YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY FEEL THE LOSS AND
PAIN OF YOUR LOVE ONE, AND REFUSE TO BE CONTENT’

WITH THE MIND SET, INTRANSIGENT, WITH THOSE
AGAINST OUR CAUSE, REMAIN FIRM.  YOU WILL NOT
BE SWAYED, DENIED NOR SETTLE FOR THE NORM;

NOW WE, WHO ARE THE REASON OF YOUR PRESENCE
HERE TODAY, KNOW THE STORM IS RAGING, BUT YOU’LL
ARE ANCHORED, YOU’LL HERE TO STAY;

NOW WE WHO FEELS IT, CAN NEVER FORGET
THESE EPOCHAL SACRIFICES. BECAUSE OF YOU’LL
WE WILL BE  TRIUMPHANT IN THIS CRISIS.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU’LL

– Unknown

Abyss of a Mountain

Residing here at Keen Mountain, echo reverberates with oppression and apathy/feels more like a cave to me/you wonder, is the sun up this day/cause the only light you see is not far away/is there cloud, or is it a blue sky today/this also you wonder, be it the only hue you see is gray/once the lights on this is how it will stay/17 hours later the lights goes off, you once again ask yourself, is there any stars in the sky, the only stars you’ll see is when you bang your head against the wall/is that rain I’m hearing; while my head is clearing/NO/it’s only the guy next door setting off the fire sprinkler/the lights is on again, so it must be another day/this assumption is justified, cause the slot open, here arrive your breakfast tray/you stare at the mess, and hope for the best/All the while wondering what kinda mountain is this, when the mess hits the pit of your stomach, you realize you’re in the bowels of this mountain.

-Mark “Abba Natty” King
Virgin Islands’ Prisoner at Keen Mountain Correctional Center
Oakwood, VA

Sacrosanct Prayer For Freedom!!

The need for freedom always on my mind/never deviate won’t be left behind/The urgent need elucidating it’s intent/ingrained on the conscious mind, refuse to relent/There is one who with the stroke of a pen can say when/Should I exalt him as God?/NO/Cause no man is equal in this regards/Only needing the chance to be free/Humbly willing to become a symbolic pillar of society/The spirit reborn with self-conscious scrutiny/ a spark touch, tinder, eternal flames burning, strong desire to contribute to our community/The need for freedom, confirm to hold dear/Does the man with the pen hear me?/Does anybody care?  FREE I!!!

-Mark “Abba Natty” King
Virgin Islands’ Prisoner at Keen Mountain Correctional Center
Oakwood, VA

Fatherhood Is Forever

From the planting of the seed/willing ready to supply its needs/The time of blossom has arrive/willing nature this blessing to survive Years turn to decades/The bonding grows stronger, responsibility never fades/lesson taught, lesson learn/The desire to emulate continue to yearn/ In your heart this brings a smile, all the while you’re learning too/that been a father longevity is a constant pursuit/Another milestone come at last/the tree bears fruit has come to pass/The lesson learnt are repeated as such, cause it worked by your presence and touch/The duty of fatherhood should never be taken lightly/For the memories of your actions is a beacon that shines brightly.

– Mark “Abba Natty” King
Virgin Islands’ Prisoner at Keen Mountain Correctional Center
Oakwood, VA

Why Me?

Why Me?
They’ve locked up my earthly body but, my mind
is still FREE.  Thy mind is a gift from the ALMIGHTY.

Why Me?
On my way through life, I was deeply associated
with poverty.  The CREATOR me knowledge to cure
naturally.

Why Me?
I’ve made wrong choices, that have causes me
to not be FREE.  I’ve served my time &
prison was GOOD for me.  Now I am rehabilitated
that I’ve paid my debt to society.

Why Me?
Why Me,
Why ME!!

A part of life some human beings encounter
& others never see.

Why me, why me, why not me I made my own atrocity.  GOOD for me, GOOD  for ME!!  From my terrible choices I’ve overstand GOD’S wrath and changed from being stupidy.  Thanks be the Almighty & my initiative abilities.

Why Me?
Why me,
Why anybody?
Because it’s REALITY

-Ronald Martin
Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facilty