With the ‘Penned Up’ festival just over the next thing up on the literary calendar will be the 2nd running of ‘Chain Gang’. This is a writing collaboration between Erlestoke Prison in the U.K. and Larimer County Jail in the U.S.A.
So here we give you some of the results of last years collaborations and the work they inspired. We hope to have as much success this year as we did with last year’s efforts. Click below to see the article as it appeared in ‘The Manor – Winter edition 2018’
Chain Gang – Text only version:
20 writers, 2 nations… one heck of a story – this was how we advertised the recent collaborative writing project between one American jail and one British prison to prospective writers in HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire, England. And it did indeed, turn out to be, one heck of a story.
Ten highly talented writers from Erlestoke and ten more from Colorado ‘s Larimer County Jail in Fort Collins, stepped up to the challenge. Leaders from both workshops offered writing prompts via video so that writers could find inspiration from a range of ideas and thinkers. The writers worked and then exchanged their writing for feedback.
It wasn’t always easy, and every writer in their own way challenged themselves to stretch their talent further, and write in styles they hadn’t previously considered.
Perhaps the most challenging part of all was to give and receive feedback to a group of others writers, equally committed to their practice, but who were first-named strangers sitting somewhere across the Atlantic. Each writer in this position must stand and fall by his words alone…but no one fell. Here we are pleased to feature some of the work composed by some of the writers.
Some of the men are already accomplished writers. From Erlestoke, Michael and Dan are both poets, and Dave is well on his way to writing a life story with the familiarity of your childhood backyard and the wicked string of Irish humour to keep you on your toes. James has an express train of a novel that combines plot and philosophy into a tightly woven narrative of conspiracy and prophecy.
Other writers may have had less experience but no less commitment to developing their craft and they produced some really powerful pieces of work; Kyle, Ben, David, Wayne and Jon all shaped their ideas into lines that were at times razor sharp and stark, while at others, beautifully wrought with the cadence of skilful prose. There was heartfelt encouragement, inspiring words, support and the slow process of learning the craft of writing in the company of others. It is an ongoing process, a work-in-progress, and it is a privilege to be able to share some of their stories so far. We hope to continue our new Trans-Atlantic collaboration in the future.
Tobi Jacobi (Colorado State University, USA)
And Ella Simpson (Bath Spa University, UK)
A New Start
Dave (UK)
All my life, from day Dot, all I have ever done is simply – survive
The future though is my time, a time to THRIVE
Because at all my violent convictions,
I have been contained and controlled by restrictions
It has been an epic Battle, to be locked up
Here there, everywhere – Driven about like a piece of cattle
Am I an animal? A piece of Dirt? A waste of space?
No, I am a mammal – Just like you
Do I deserve less from life than you….or you?
For me the stakes were higher but God loves a trier?
I have seriously considered suicide because I can’t
seem to coincide since I tried to commit the homicide
So here I sit up high, on the parapet, looking down on all
of you, because now the tables have turned, oh yes
I have been burned, but now those old scars have healed
and the real David has now been revealed
I know now that I can be Somebody and do you know
What? I’m quite happy that Somebody is me!!
Professor Moss 2006
Dan De Lion (UK)
“It’s going to affect your hearing”
“I’m a bit deaf already” I said.
Surgery, Chemo, now a Radio Ring,
I suppose better this than end up dead
The shock of diagnosis
Never left just changed direction
Inducing neurosis, and psychosis
Predators you can’t run from
“You’re in very good hands, she’s
The best in her field …… Oncology”
Someone said …. But not to me
“He’s not himself” an apology
“He hasn’t been – for quite some time,
you see”
Forever and Always Ash
Kyle (UK)
If I had never met you I would still be bitter.
I would not know happiness, love and joy.
I would still be immature and hate myself and the world around me.
I would have succumbed to the darkness around me and I would end up old and alone.
Drugs and alcohol would be the focus of my life.
I would be swept along with no aim like a plastic bag in the wind.
The streets would be my domain and the rage inside me would be untamed.
My soul would be lost as it did not have a mate to play with.
I would forever and always be lost to the world that does not understand me.
The end would come I would be burned and turned to Ash unclaimed and Unloved.
Love is
Ryan J. (USA)
Love is like Wes because he is caring
Love is like josh because of the pain in his eyes
Love is a man’s best friend, Josh
Love is like a cat, it wants to chase dogs
Love is like cars, it can go fast
love is like Loveland, it’s in the name
Love is like USA got love for my home team
Love is like a flower, specifically roses
Love is like TV, the world is watching
Love is like pants,
you can never find the right pair.
Ashes to Ashes,
Dust to Dust.
Cowboy (USA)
I met her in a moment of light, and spent the rest of our lives in hell. Burning with what we thought was love caused us to melt – together, burning, united in pain we died. Dying to live our souls finally parted; freedom to feel was the day our love started. Smoke and dust settled and cleared making us who we now appear – happy, health better apart. Love and hate refund the true results of broken together, thinking you care, but it doesn’t.
House of Ravens
E/P Wordsmith (USA)
Instead of a college degree,
I spent the first two years of my adult life in the Army.
Instead of a career,
I spent the next six years in prison for a childish decision.
Instead of a baby boy to hold,
I get to spend my time looking at a
memorial on a tombstone.
Instead of bliss and joy and love,
I get to spend the next six years longing for my wife.
Instead of getting my life back,
I get to spend the rest of my life making up for lost time.
Instead of being me,
I get to be what you’ve created within me.
Instead of
Rex Gold (USA)
Instead of dying, my best friend finished his sentence, made it out of CCJ alive and became a rapper with me.
We toured the US, freestyling on the bus just like we used to in my old grey Buick on the way to mine to buy heroin.
Instead of dying I had a chance to be a better friend to him and tell him I love him and always have his back.
But in this particular situation, in this universe, there is no instead of dying cuz he’s dead and that’s that.
