From the Iowa Prison Writing Project

 

My name is Brandon Feighner and I wrote some prior poems for P.W.P. I am still at N.C.F., and am soon to be released here on. This poem is special to me as I was thinking about my fears upon release. If I go hug my kids, will they remember me? Will they listen the rumors and attacks of what I did?

 

If I Hug You

 

if I hug you

will you remember me?

will you hug me back?

 

my love will never lack—

in the penitentiary

if I hug you

 

this much is true

you give me so much glee

will you hug me back?

 

you’ve heard the attack

there’s a lot to see

if I hug you

 

to the ones who grew

this is me

will you hug me back?

 

my heart is brittle; crack

it’s been eternity

if I hug you

will you hug me back?