Dear Sammy,

There are so many things that I want to say

To you

To your cellmate

To the guy in Cell Block D who loses a piece of himself each day

The sun’s rays are beating against the concrete walls

Desperately trying to reach you

To touch your face and remind you that there are better days

A day will come when you won’t have to look over your shoulder

When you won’t be afraid to look another man in the eye

When you won’t be afraid of being

The only black guy

The only white guy

The only Hispanic

When you won’t have to be afraid of being

From this gang or that,

Will I need this shank today?

I kept this razor blade just in case

A day when the six foot seven, sadistic rapist, isn’t staring at you like you’re on a menu A day when your kids can be proud again,

When your wife can learn to love you again

When you get your life back, with added knowledge of how to live it right

When that time comes,

I will be waiting outside that barbed wire fence

I will be there giving forgiveness that isn’t mine to give,

Taking away the judgment that our society has thrust upon you

That you are incapable of change

But I know better I know underneath that pain, brokenness, and just plain dumb decisions, Is a man ready to be new again,

Now Dear Sammy,

I know that you will never get the chance to cross over to my side of the playground I know that you will never again return home

But you can help the terrified eighteen year old kid, who got caught drunk driving,

The men who like you have changed their lives from the inside out

The men who don’t know of the possibilities of a new day

These young men are your sun,

They are the days without shanks, shivs, rape, beat downs, branding, and even murder

Because those you change, will in turn change you

And give you something to live for

Until the countdown ends, and you leave

But leave knowing you helped saved a life

All because of a little girls dream to save yours