I reproduce this poem here as I think it is important to remind the general public that His Majesty's Prisons house human beings with talent and creative and independent minds and a desire for love and peace.
It is taken from the book Independent Minds, New Poetry from HMP Kilmarnock, edited by Kevin Williamson and published by Luath Press, Edinburgh, ISBN 978-1-910021-00-2
Forgive and Forget,
Can we now forgive humanity
For all its abuse and brutality?
Wars in the east; wars in the west
For politicians, 'cause they know best.
It's in our interest or so they say
Those power games they make us play.
Fight and kill in the Lord God's name
So who is guilty and who's to blame?
Be it opium, gold, diamonds or oil
There's been so much blood soaked into the soil
And brain washed minds now rotten to the core,
So how can mankind take much more?
It's time to forgive, but do we forget
Or forever live in the shadow of threat?
So Mother, Father, Sister and Brother
Live now in peace and love one another.
David.
