Let me start by filling you in on the reasons and the poems on this page... This is a collection of poems that were written during a time of my life that I am not proud of, but all the same it is part of my life. Let me explain (not make excuses) about this. I chose to take the easy life, one without responsibilities and decision making. I wanted things my way and was going to get them no matter what I had to do. All of the things I had TO DO wound me up in prison for a short time... I had problems and chose not to deal with them. Finally one day reality hit me in the face like a ton of bricks, and it hurt. I cried for the first time for the wrongs I had done. Not because the wrongs put me behind bars but because the wrongs had hurt others. I am not in any way glorifying any of my PAST LIFE and am offended if you think that is what's going on. I hope that maybe some of these poems will help others, especially the young ones who still have the abilities to change if they are on that path of destruction that I once walked upon. Please read these poems with an open mind and you may learn from some of them. Thank you... James Merwin Newest Poem #A Just thinking again.. © James Dale Merwin...Poem #1 This poem describes my feelings during my time of incarceration when I still held a grudge against society for locking me up. When in all due respects I locked myself up. The title of this poem is Con-Finement © James Dale Merwin...Poem #2 is entitled The Bars and deals with feelings that I as well as many prisoners feel. © James Dale Merwin.Poem #3 This Poem is titled, The Ink Pusher... I wrote it on the wall of the segregation cell. I thought maybe it could help others that went into that cell. I copied it to paper to save because I thought it did make sense after reading it a few times... © James Dale MerwinPoem #4 is titled "My Life" and was wrote when I realized that I was in a world that was unforgiving and cruel and knowing that one day I would be out of that world. I hope you enjoy this poem. © James Dale MerwinPoem #5 is titled "my Demons" and is about my thought and visions and realities of my life. I am blessed as much if not more than any man on the face of the earth to have went through such experiences and to still have my sanity and to have as many people love me that I have at the present. I have a true friend in Tom Clark, I have true unconditional love in my wife Alice and Love without end in my parents Dale and Jerrie Merwin. © James Dale MerwinPoem #6 is titled Hells Dragon, and deals with Heroin addiction, and the downfalls of such drugs. Please read and try to see the message that lies inside the rhyme... © James Dale Merwin Poem #7 is a poem that I wrote for an inmate at Mt. Sterling Correctional Center. He was having a hard time dealing with the pressures of getting out and going back to drugs. He kept the poem saying that it may help him, unfortunately he was another victim of "The Rock"... I miss him to this day... Please do not follow in his footsteps. © James Dale MerwinPoem #8 is titled, "This Rhyme", and deals with the feelings that were felt in prison, and also deals with the consequences of bad decision making and saying, "I dont need any advice and I can do everything myself!" Well I had that saying all my youth and look where it got me... Hopefully this poem can help someone. © James Dale MerwinPoem #9 This poem is about my father and the memories that I have of him. They are not pleasant ones nor are the scars that remain in my life forever. © James Dale MerwinPoem #10 This poem is titled, "James (Father)"... I still have feelings for him that I don't know how to deal with and I find poetry is the best way for me to spill my feelings. He will forever haunt my life, and I will forever keep him with me, why I do not know. © James Dale MerwinPoem #11 The title of this poem is The Root Of Evil. I have a lot of feelings dealing with my real father and I must express them or I would go crazy. He is a man that I would rather not know of but at the same time if it weren't for him, I would not be here and have the life that I now have. I still go crazy at times dealing with this subject. © James Dale MerwinPoem #12 This is a slightly disturbing poem. As I say, "It is not the words or the thoughts that are evil, it is actions". Therefore this poem deals with a disturbing issue that I suffer with, called depression. Read the poem and what lies between the lines and when done, know that I am still here. I write instead of acting. I am giving this warning because some people may find poems or even the thoughts of suicide very disturbing. © James Dale Merwinhere to go to Main Home Page...This page under MAJOR CONSTRUCTION...
