This is one of my favorites. A poem written by a woman prisoner that speaks to everything that is hidden by her prison “blues” or uniform. The uniform obscures the heart, soul, and inner strength of the person. The opening lines capture so much about the realities of prison life: “while our roots are grounded on the barren land; branches spread wider than wings.”

Wearing Blues
by Kinnari Jivani

Wearing Blues
while our roots are grounded on the barren land
branches spread wider than wings
in hope that the wind-god will bring
the footwear for the roots
and free them from the heavy six digit chain

Wearing Blues
over the limbs that had ridden the ship of battles
out of desperation or need or want or
out of fear of the shadows crawling over our bodies

Wearing Blues
for the tears that never could bleed but dry and turn into scabs,
coarse tears scabs
that peel away slowly

Wearing Blues
brings somber burden, taboo and
the grief that cry the silent roar
the memoir introspection speaks that
underneath the ganglion and layers of wrinkled-skin-experiences
grow the layers of wisdom

Wearing Blues
takes the dare to survive the unknown
strength to stand the degradation and pain
courage to stand gracefully tall
faith to drink the love that rain drops shower

Wearing Blues
‘cause in the limbo
notes of rock, jazz and rap
sounds like blues
and we are living the blues
with simper