In the Midst of Chaos

Earlier one of my neighbors and I were listening to the news and commenting on all of the current socio-political issues being talked about—Iraq, Afghanistan, Health Care, etc.—when we were interrupted by someone yelling out that we’re on some type of temporary lockdown.

I ventured to the door to investigate and found out that some officers from the Death Row building had to rush out to general population to stop a gang fight, so they temporarily stopped all movement on the unit. Two officers were over by the control picket talking about how “the Mexican gangs are out there beatin’ the shit out of each other again.”

We went back to our discussion and then began a Poetry Reading. Being that we’re in the middle of Yule I dropped a poem by Samuel Coleridge that alludes to the essence of Yule. Then we started vibing on some poetry by Mario Benedetti and someone interrupted us again.

A guy just came back from visitation and as he was walking down the hall he saw Ms. Smith being taken to the Captain and Major’s office while raving about how she was “going to kick that fucking bitch’s ass!!” Apparently another female officer became fed up with property officer Smith’s maniacally sordid ways and said something in challenge to her reign of terror and Ms. Smith almost physically attacked her before other officers intervened.

Similar instances have happened in the past with Ms. Smith, one of which I have personally witnessed—she makes no distinction between inmates and officers when unleashing venomously malicious attacks. So, a gang riot is going is going on right now, a bunch of officers are in an uproar because of Ms. Smith’s antics, two guys downstairs are yelling at the top of their lungs cursing each other out behind an argument over Sports, and me and my neighbor are about to continue our Poetry Reading in the midst of chaos…

To be a creator, to live an Artistic Life; to leap from mountaintops with the wings of an eagle while battles rage in the valleys; to live Life fully, to love Life deeply, to reach out and grasp beauty in the midst of chaos; to be an explorer and allow your consciousness to soar to new heights; to constantly grow and challenge your Self; to uplift others and strive to allow Light to emanate from your Being like illuminating rays from a thousand-petaled Lotus; to conquer adversity with the unwavering force of a war-frenzied band of Titans, but to do so peacefully—that is a very profound thing indeed.

Love & Strength:
Rob

[Date Written: 12.30.09]