SiS5v^^\<$^>'S:<^^gv<^^^'-yst^ ^^-PRISON POETRY.t^-^ /r H^ pf Mcknight. V\C\Ol' c- In leisure moments cast a look Upon the pages of this book ; AND IF YOUR thoughts THEY SHOULD ENGAGE, Just think of me who wrote this page. And if by chance, in your time of leisure, YOU, in these pages, should find pleasure. Then dart your mind up to this cell. For here I live in an earthly HELL Cj^y^yJU^ 0. ^ I *? «? (.4 N^ ij ^^^ ■W^^ ■Tl DEDICATION. (;o forth, thou litlU- voUnnf. I leave thee to thy fate I To those who read thee I'aithfiilly Thv leaves I dedicate. But if your fate should be so sad As mine who thee have writ, I'd be so vexed to think that I Had made siich a ])oor " hit." But if by chance you meet a friend Along- life's road so dreary. Just cheer his mind till he is blind. And never make him wearv. Teach him the way, the livo-lon Harrison 24 Law 3() Roth 4(. McKnight 111-112 Harrison !(.'» CONTENTS. Love's Victim, - - - . Last Nig-lu In the Dunireoii, Midnitrlit Musinsrs, - - - Mother, . . - - - My Lawyer, - - - - My Mother. - - - - - My Prison (iarden. Our Board of Manajrers. - One and a Few,- - - - Out (if the Depths - - - - i'rison Pains, . . . - Prisoners, - - - - - Perfect Peace, - - - - Reflections. - - - - - Rhyme and Reason, ... Stray Thoughts, . - - - Salome's Reveng-e, She Loves Me Yet, - Soul Sculpture, - - - - The Storms of Life, The Prisoner Released, - - - The Convict's Prayer, The Great "O. P." - - - - Tlie Fall of Sodom, - " " '• Canto Second, There Is No Death, - Tlie Murderer's Dream, - - - The Prisoner's Mother. The Reformer, . - - - The Under Doff, The Phantom Boat, - - - To A Departed Idol, Tribute to Dr. G. A. Tharp, Tribute to the Wolfe Sisters, - Tribute to the Wolfe Sisters, Tribute to Capt. Joseph Smith Achesoi Tribute to Capt. L. H. Wells, The Mind's the Standard of the Man, The Author's Farewell. . - - Two Letters, . . - - Weig-hl and Immortality of Words, - Which Loved Her Best, Wine vs. Water. . - - - Would Thev Know. - Bv McKniffht 58-63 38-30 '• oS-09 Overstreet, 10 Gilbert 144-145 Carr 100-1 111 McKnig-ht 11 " 65-00 21069 07-0M Harrison 170 " 45 McKnig-ht .S3 McKnig-ht 37 " 43-44 " ll-lo " 70-72 " 115-142 Harrison 140 Doane 51 Law 57 Col. Parsons 44 Harrison 73 McKnig-ht 40 " 78-80 " 75-80 " 47 " 170-1.S2 Mrs. Wiricli 22 Law 43 Barker 45-40 Harrison 151-10'> Van Weig-hs 1 01-02 " 113 Harrison 80-01 McKnig-ht 81-82 Harrison 108 Van Weig-hs 60-07 McKnight 185-100 " 102-103 Harrison 84-86 McKnight 52-53 " 54-57 " 74-75 Collier 40 FMIStK P®E1PS' PRELUDE. If you prefer the souiidiiiEf line, Go read some master of the Nine! Good taste perhaps you will display; Let others read my simple lay That g-ushes from an honest heart tJnawed hy fear, unstrained b3- art. I ne'er will prostitute my Muse The rich to praise, nor poor abuse; But siniplj- sing' as best I can Whate'er may bless m.v fellow man; I dare not stain a single page "With outbursts of unreasoning rage. But if one sorrow I can soothe Or one his rugged pathwa.v smooth; One pain relieve, one jo3- impart, 'Twill ease the burden of a heart That has known for wear3- j-ears No solace save unbidden tears. Hard is the heart that will refuse Due merit to the Prison Muse. May heaven watch the prisoner's weal And mankind for his sorrow feel! PRISON POETRY. My PRISON GARDEN. In this mind's g-arden thoug-hts shall grow, And in their freshness bud and blow; Thoughts to which love has beauty lent And memories sweet of sentiment. Now, if I cultivate them right good, Thej-'ll furnish me with nij- mind's food. Mj- enemies may my corpus hail. While onward, upward, thoughts will sail To realms above, where all is peace. And where the soul mav rest with ease. RHYME AND REASON. In contravention of the laws of right, Man's cruel passion and his guiltj- might. Has bound me tightl.v with a galling chain Of heaped-up malice and unjust disdain! From front rank lawyer to a felon's cell, ^ Through perjured villians, not by sin I fell! Bj- fiat law my body was consigned To this grim cell for guiltj- ones designed. Yet I'm no convict— I have never known The deep remorse by guilty wretches shown! I am a martyr — doomed by adverse fate To brave the billows of malicious hate ! Yet I am free, for Nature's august plan Makes MIND not mailer constitute the MAN. Tho' men may curse me and cast out m.v name. Like some vile bauble on the sea of shame; Brand me as murderer or catiff thief. Or atheistic infidel — steepid in unbelief; Foe to all that's pure and good — wretch unfit to live; Outlaw whom no honest man can even pit.v give! Yet nij- soul will still def.v your prison bolts and bars. 12 PRISON POETRY. And soaring- far on eafj-er wins^s beyond the faintest stars. Live in a world to you unknown, where only poet soul Can bask in beauty undefiled by cankering- control I In vain is all your hate and scorn — vain your prison blig-ht; God loves me, and I feel assured that all will yet be rig-htl I know one law — a perfect law, by Nature's self designed — 'Tis Heaven's dearest gift to man— The Freedom of the Mind! If minds and hearts were easy read as faces we can see. Society would lose its dread and many a prisoner free! But what, alas! do people care what's in another's brain? They only seek to hide their share of misery and pain. Were all compelled to truthful be and show their inner life — Great heavens! what a jamboree of sin and shame and strife! How few would measure half a span if Mind alone we closely scan I Where is the man on this broad earth, so pure, so good, so true. That never gave an action birth he dared not bring to view? The Christ alone was sinless here, none other lives aright; All human goodness springs from fear of death's approaching nig-ht! There is no soul so white I know but what temptation's power Its purity can overthrow and all its good deflower! Disguise the truth as best we can, he errs the most who most is Man! Come, let us take a journey, with cathode rays supplied. And view the g-reatest and g-ood in all their pomp and pride! Examine first the churches, where the godlj' crew Teach poor erring mortals what is best to do. Thej- tell us human nature is once and always wrong. And prove man's deep depravity in sermon or hy song. All natural passion is denounced as deep and deadlj' sin. And truth and inrtue painted as graces hard to win. Heaven, they tell us, is a place with blisses running o'er; Hell, a lake of torture, where fiery billows roar! A choice eternal all must make between their birth and death: It maj' be made in early- life or with expiring breath! But how this choice must be made each gives a separate plan. That clearly proves how narrow is the erring mind of Man. PRISON POETRY. 13 One tells us naufrht but fT'^od pursue, all evil to eschew; Another swears without God's g-race no mortal thus can do; One bids us work salvation out with trembling' and with fear, Another swears that God's elect should never shed a tear; One says all must live the life Jesus lived on earth. Another says it can't be done without a Second Birth I Some say work, others trust, others stil say wait ; Some deem us mere automatons, saved or lost bj' Fate ! Some, with philanthropic views, declare all must be saved. Since Christ, the Perfect Offering' for all, death's horrors braved! Since Christians never will agree, 'tis best that every man Should listen to his conscience, and do the best he can ! God ever has and 7vi// do right! In His Eternal Plan The time will come to set aright the numerous wrongs of Man ! See yonder's pompous deacon, with diamonds clear and bright; He looks a model Christian — just turn on him your light. (ireat heavens! what a medley of cant and sin and shame! If the half we see was ever told 'twould ruin his good name! Hut turn on 3'onder pastor your strange, mj-sterious light; I know he is a real good man, who loves Eternal Right. Ye holy saints, protect us! he too has gone amiss! When Siren Voice allured him with a seductive kiss! If half the prayers we utter be not a sounding' lie. It is but little marvel that we are doomed to die! For each will plead forgiveness for thought or action done, And none by spotless merit eternal bliss hath won. Then gently judg'e j'our fellow, his failings lightly scan; Like you, he can not corner all the brains of man! See, yonder is our Congress, where wits and fools unite. To declare by the nation's statute what is fundamental right! They j-ell of patriotism and the majesty of Law, And are for once unanimous — their salaries to draw ! Alas! alas! 'tis ever thus within our halls of State; Sweet Justice is blacklisted — the dollar is too great. Aye, even on judicial bench, where justice should be done, How scattering are the cases where Right the victory won! Lawyers, judge and jur.v exparte view the case — An angel would be ruined in the defendant's place! In vain is protestation, in vain a blameless life; Some must be doomed to prison when prejudice is rife! Law must keep its servants in stations high and proud, Tho' every hour should furnish a coffin and a shroud ! 14 PRISON POETRY. The modern vShylock of toda.v, unlike his friend of old. Demands the pound of quivering- flesh and all his victim's g^old; Nor feels content until he sees his victim's hated face Behind a wall of rock and steel in garments of disgrace. Then he will raise his dainty hands and loud applaud the law That can protect such being-s, who live without a flaw. He has no pit^- for the weak, who thro' temptation fall, But f reel}- spends his time and means the guileless to enthrall. He heaps his mig-hty wrath and scorn on ever}' evil done. And speaks in tones of pure disg^ust of povertj-'s pale son. But if 30U bid him look within and study his own heart. He has a task herculean — 'tis such a liny part! And as for Mind — ye angels I in fair creation's plan 'Twas given to his victim, and left him half a man! The modern Clytemnestra no dag-ger needs to use; She slaj-s her agememnon within your legal pews. Since judges now are willing to sunder marriage ties. And juries are so truculent when blushing beauty lies. Or if she be a Helen, and Paris suits her taste. She hastes without compunction to la.v her honor waste. " Society " allows her to have " a special friend," And a husband is so handy her good tiame to defend! But alas! Aspasia no mcTcy need expect; Her Pericles lionized, but none her worth detect! And as for poor Thargelia none will take hei part; She lives a social outcast, with broken, bleeding heart; But each base seducer, in our social plan. Makes poor, trusting woman bear the sins of Man ! Man}' men are now misjudged, and meet an awful fate. Whose innocence is published, but alas, it is too late! Many, too, are breathing freedom's precious air Whose vile conduct merits prison dress and fare. Only little rascals in your prisons die. While stupendous villians liberty can buy! Each one strives with fervor his neig^hbor to outshine. And he who has the most of gold is reckoned half divine. You scatter dark temptations around the poor man's path. And when he falls you pour on him a// your vicious wrath. Poverty in public lives all her deeds are seen; Wealth can build a castle her 7vickedness to screen. Yet many a noble woman and kingly man is found As toilers in your factories or tillers of the ground! PRISON POETRY. 15 If cathode rays were freely used to bring- to human sig-ht The dirty methods villians use to dim'/i Eternal Riffht, Man}- men would be set free and others take their place Who now can roll in luxury and lauMTh at their disgrace. A judg-e and jur}- now can sit and hang a man at will, But the}- say 'tis open murder if but one dares kill! Take a ring- of brass and plate it o'er with g-old, And 'tis only business when the fraud is soldi Adulterate both food and drink, deal in deadly pills; Law will aid your robbery and collect your bills! Give to your profession but a sounding- name, Then cut up the devil without fear or shame. Be sure to call it business whatever you may do, And if you have sufficient gall \haX will pull you through. Now throughout this prison rays cathodal dart. And read the hidden secrets of each convict heart. Some have wrought vile deeds, and wrought them o'er and o'er, That surely proves them rotten to their inmost core. And here are wretched fiends, who with consumate art. Ravish every instinct of the human heart. Some men of wit and letters, cultured and refined. Others moral lepers, with heart and conscience blind. From drawing room and brothel, farm and city slum. Some by acts of justice, some through perjury come; The innocent and guilty, callow youth and age. All can be imprisoned in this Christian age! But they who seek for liberty no innocence must plead — Gold, and plenty of it, will be all they need. Some young souls are making, for a stated time, • This, their maiden effort, on the sea of crime. Oh, Christians, teach them early what to me is plain; Crime ever has and ever will result in lasting pain. Do not be too lenient, nor too soon forgive, Lest all vice should flourish and no virtue live. Society demands it, the guilty should atone — But take care you punish those, and those alone ! Keep them in your prisons till by virttie%\\ovin They will know what is and what is not their own. But let all be careful lest by word or act Those who should reform them from their good subtract. Rule them wisely, gently— by some humane plan. All their faults to conquer as best becomes a MAN. l6 PRISON POETRY. Wheti your work is finished and their habits chang-ed. Give them honest labor, by the State arrang-ed; Show them lionest labor can a living' gain. While the social outcast harvests 7vaut and shame ! Treat them fairl3-, kindly; teach them all the true Will be friendlj- with them while the right thej- do. Both principle and policy declare this course is wise; Then why long-er act the fool and wisdom's voice despise? Crime never can nor will decrease until in M-^isdom's School Men learn the noted lesson, "Right through Law should Rule. All tried plans are failures, this none dares deny; Now give Common Sense a show and failure dare defy. Do this, and lash and pistol, now your sole defense, Shall g-ive place to Reason and plain Common Sense! Courts are far too careless when the^- g'ive men life For offense unnoticed save in time of strife. Naught but some poor chicken or a ham he stole — Shall the devil purchase at such price a soul ? If such petty crimes as this deserve such prison fare. Come now, honest reader, what is yoitr just share? Was that old Greek right, who, tho' a man of sense. Could meet out death to all for each small offense? Applj- his heartless rule, and can you truly say Any man or woman would be left to slay ? Man is onl3' mortal, and to sin is prone: Never cure another's faults till you quit your own. Many are convicted bj- the press at large; The Public Mind is rarelj' Heaven's peculiar charge. Bring the judge and jury who declared nij- fate For the shining dollars furnished them b3' hate. And their guiltv conscience bj- my own arrang^e, And then tell me frankly if my fate should change! Yet I had sooner die behind these bars of steel Than to have a heart of stone that could not feel! . I know such human tigers, who fatten on distress, Never can and never will enjoj' one hour of rest! Until all hate and malice, all greed and other sin Is burned hy awful torture to leave them pure within! God 2c/ill forgive each penitent whate'er his sin maj- be, Whose heart is overflowing with love for bond and free. Oh listen! brothers, listen — 'tis Jehovah's plan— And a time is fixed to rig-ht the wrongs of Man. PRISON POETRY. 17 Freedom. How sweet thou art, O freedom, To every human heart — Man's privilegre most sacred. His being^'s noblest part. Thou priceless, g'reat possession. Without thee life were done! Its sun (jToiie down forever. For thou and life are one. How dear thou art, O freedom — Our birthrig'ht here belowl Chief blessinnr of all blessings Kind heaven doth bestow. Deprived by dark misfortune Of every other joj-, Naug-ht while thou still remainest Can happiness destroj'. But thou, O prison penance. Dark shadow bj- life's board! Of all that men hold mournful Thou art the fullest stored. There's naught on earth worth having- If 't must be shared with thee— O happy, holy freedom! O heaven, set me free. iS PRISON POETRY. GOD BLESS THEMI God bless the mothers of this land! They are so good and true; And all the sisters of their band. They are so noble, too. If we don't treat them with respect. And court their wholesome 'fluence. Our morals will not be correct. And we will suffer hence. If women are not treated with respect, and made to e.xercise an influence over the social world, the standard of jirivate virtue and public opinion will be lowered, and the morals of men will suffer. FORGET? No, NEVER! There are thinf^s we'll not remember. And much will be for^rot. As in the bleak December When our coffee was not hot; When the butter was much j'oung-er. When the bread was sour and dry; When are felt the pang's of hunger. With regrets and many a sigh. How the memorj' used to vex us As 'twould o'er our senses steal; How we wished they might "annex " us. So we'd get one good square meal. Other things may be forgot In this busy, hustling age, But one thing we ne'er can blot From off our memorj^'s page. That we never can forget In a hundred months of Junes; It will long our memories fret — T/iosr primes — those rotten, ■:voriiiy prunes. PRISON POETRY. MOTHER. 19 BY OVERSTREET. Who is it, in this life so drear. That pines for tlie wandering' boj', And ever ready with words of cheer To turn sad tlioughts to joy ? Mother. Who is it. when all others do forsake And leave us to our grief, That will for long- hours lie awake And pray for our relief ? Mother. Who is it, when the world laug-hs on And g-ives our sig-hs no thought. That thinks of the bo3' who looks upon This life that's come to naug-ht? Mother. Who is it, when from prison freed — The boy goes forth so sadlj* — That receives him in his hour of need With tears of joy — yea, gladlj- ? Mother. Who is it, when the end has come. Looks fondly on her child. And pra3-s to God for a happy home For the boj' that's been so wild ? Mother. >