by Vincent van Gogh circa 1882

THE VOICE IN THE VENT

As I sit and cry and wipe away a tear
The voice in the vent says “What’s wrong with you dear?”

I explain my feelings. I explain my fear.
The voice in the vent says, “It will become very clear.”

My soul is dying and it’s starting to harden.
The voice in the vent says, “You’ll get that pardon.”

I know the President is busy right now.
The voice in the vent believes it will still come through, somehow.

For I know the voice has been here 2 years.
I don’t know how? I’ve not even a year.

The voice in the vent says, “I’ve screamed and I’ve cried.”
I dreamed last night that I actually died

The voice in the vent says,”It can’t end up that way,
Because the world is waiting to hear what you say.”

So I got to push forward and move on along.
As the voice in the vent works on his next song.

If the pardon came through and this was my fate
The voice in the vent said, “Wouldn’t America be great?”

As the voice in the vent is starting to fade.
Was it real or was it fake?
Or did God mean it this way?
For the voice in the vent to save me today.

All I can do is bow my head and just pray
And wait for him to take me away.

This voice I have never seen a face to
Is the only thing keeping me from killing myself.

What a sad way to live.

Poem by Joe Exotic via Francisco Hernandez.  Written from solitary confinement. June, 10, 2020.