T h e   P r i s o n e r

by  Howard E. Morseburg

The real rewards of criminality,
Are heartaches, loneliness and cruelty.

There are four gray walls in your little cell,
If they could just speak, what stories they�d tell.
They�d put together a long history
Of loneliness, violence and cruelty.

Of blood on the hands of the men who�ve killed.
And of the child�s laughter that�s now been stilled,
There�s the father who lost his only son,
When his killer fired a stolen gun.

They�d tell of mothers who died of a broken heart,
Of the families forced to live apart.
Of the father�s long missing from their home,
�Cause they sleep at night in a bunk, alone.

Of promises made�that men didn�t keep.
And of children crying themselves to sleep.
Of wives and sweethearts who say prayers each night,
For one more chance to hold their loved one tight.

Of brothers and sisters who�re left behind,
Who pleaded with them, but they paid them no mind.
Yes, loneliness, heartaches and misery,
Are the rewards for criminality.

  Of the old people who were victimized,
(Try viewing such crimes through their aged eyes!)
Of the woman raped and beaten one night,
And the doctors who failed to save her sight.

Think of what you�ve done to your family,
They too are paying a huge penalty.
For the crimes you�ve done they�re prisoners too,
They�re being punished by the �time� you do.

You�re not the only one who has to pay,
They suffer with you a little each day.
The birthdays you miss, they think of the one
Who�s serving hard time for the crimes he�s done.

There are three who suffer from the crimes you do,
The victims, your family, then�there�s you.
You can�t continue this way and be so blind,
You�ve got to think�if you�ve a heart and mind.

All those years you�ve served, they�re forever lost,
Think of what you�ve done; think about that cost.
Yes, loneliness, heartaches and misery,
They�re the real price of criminality.

  You face the wall, and then�let the tears flow,
You don�t want the others to see you so.
When lying awake in the still of night,
Vow to do better; promise to do right.

It�s easy to say, �Because of my race,
I�ve been put away in this horrible place.�
Or to place the blame on society,
Why not admit, �It�s just got to be me.�

 Think of the victims to whom you�ve brought pain.
If you had your freedom, would you risk it again?
For loneliness, heartaches and misery,
That�s what you pay for criminality.

You think its been bad, you say its been rough,
Listen, my friend, you�ve not had it so tough.
There are kids born crippled, who�ll never walk,
And some brain damaged who�ll never talk.

You came into this world born in good health,
Did you ever think that�s better than wealth?
How did you ever get into this mess,
When you�ve had all the tools to be a success?

The lives you�ve ruined, have you felt no remorse?
When you�re free will you follow the same course?
More loneliness, heartaches and misery,
That�s what you�ll pay for criminality.

You�ve got to change if you�ve a heart, and mind,
You can�t continue this way�to be so blind,
Those who�ll suffer for the crimes that you do�
Are the victims, your family�then there�s YOU!

What�ll you do when once more you�re a free man?
Take time now to think, to lay out your plan.
Think now with your heart, its time for remorse,
Like a ship at sea�it�s time to change course

For loneliness, heartaches and misery�
Is a high price to pay for criminality!

Copyright 11/1/01   Howard E. Morseburg

You have the ability to change your ways,   course   (out)
The decisions you make days�..??

Tomorrow?

by Howard E. Morseburg

Tomorrow is always the magical day,
Yet, Tomorrow�s a day that may never come,
Tomorrow might only be hours away,
But there�s no guarantee for anyone.

For there are no certainties along life�s way,
Of happiness, friends, nor a life in good health,
You�re not assured of a single day,
No matter how great your power and wealth.

Today is the day to say softly, �I love you,�
And Today is the day to generously give.
Saying, �I�m sorry,� may be the right thing to do,
Or whispering gently, �I forgive.�

Tomorrow�s sunrise you may never see,
So Today is the day that cannot wait,
This is the day to live vigorously,
Tomorrow may be...just one day too late.

Yes, Tomorrow may seem like the perfect day,
But Tomorrow�s the day that might never come.
Tomorrow?  The clock keeps ticking away,
For Tomorrow�s not certain...for anyone.

Copyright 1992    H. E. Morseburg   S.A.M.   P.O. Box 320   Solvang, CA 93464