Edited
by SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE
Recovery of the Broken
Moon
Women’s Writing Program at Washington County Jail, Volume 18
October 2025
Recovery of the Broken Moon
Creative Writing Program at Washington County Jail © 2025 COMPAS
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews.
This activity is made possible through funding from the WCA Foundation and St. Croix Valley Foundation.
ISBN 978-0-927-663-87-8
Cover Artwork by: Enchanted Block Poets
Interior Artwork by: Kanani Legese, Nia Lumbar, SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE, Kaylee Steele
Teaching Artist and Editor: SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE
Interior design and layout: Brittany Keefe
Print production: Smartpress, 950 Lake Dr., Chanhassen, MN
Her bonnet is the firmament The Universe - her shoe The Stars - the trinkets at her belt
Her dimities of Blue — Emily Dickinson
Contents
Foreword | vi
Section 1: Impact Craters | 1
E Block | 2
The Definition of Insanity
A Group Poem by the Enchanted Block Poets | 3
Speak Up | 4
Just Gotta Get Through It | 5
I Deserted You When You Needed Me Most | 6
When You Still Danced | 7
It’s Made Up | 8
Letter to My Nebil | 9
Section 2: Natural Satellites | 11
Dear Son | 12
Time Stopped | 13
If My Heart Was A House | 14
Realization | 15
Friend | 16
Family Recipe | 17
You Measure with Your Eyes | 18
My Angel With A Sunflower Halo | 19
Dear Big Jer, | 20
Your Creation | 22
Summer | 23
Potluck | 24
The Non Holy Trinity | 25
Section 3: Tilted | 27
I Am | 28
Water Lillies | 29
Concentrate | 30
A Boy Who Can’t Make Up His Mind | 31
Spring Cleaning | 32
Mommy Time | 33
Section 4: Waxing Crescent | 35
Damage Assessment | 36
Future Self | 37
Don’t Forget Right Now | 38
A Cloudy Day | 39
Your Will Not Mine | 40
It’s Like God | 41
Green | 42
Injera, Coffee, & Tea | 43
Glass House | 44
Goals, Elevation, Determination
A Hokku by the Enchanted Block Poets | 45
Section 5: I am/Full Moon | 47
I’m Not Miguel, But I Love The Simple Things | 48
I am African | 49
Old Soul | 50
My Favorite Recipe | 51
My Self-Esteem, Blowing Off Steam | 52
Tara | 54
Section 6: Constellations| 55
A Prayer | 56
Constellations | 57
Recently | 58
Heart You | 59
To James, Love Shannon | 60
My Fall | 62
Photos | 63
Fireworks
A Group Poem by the Enchanted Block Poets | 64
Artists, Enchanted Block Poets | 65
Kanani Legese, poet | 66
Nia Lumbar, poet | 67
Tara May, poet | 68
Shannon Elise Mitchell, poet | 69
Lii Rodriguez, poet | 70
Kaylee Steele, poet | 71
SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE, Teaching Artist/Editor | 72
Acknowledgments | 74
Belly of the Dragon.
A box inside a labyrinthine set of clandestine boxes; a classroom with an all but forgotten shadow of a library permanently cast upon its side. Outdoors, Summer hangs on too tight—not that anyone inside the little, heavy compartments within the dragon would know.
Afternoon.
“We’re gonna walk to the far end of the library, closing the door behind us - we’ll then turn around and assert ourselves toward our audience on the far end of the classroom. We’re going to Express ourselves through the reinforced glass. Catapult Voice through what separates us to Reach Us.”
And they did - through doubt, anxiety, court dates and decisions, lock downs, pregnancy (((((Niiiiiaa)))))
Through tides of grief.
Through slowly waking up to themselves like the phases of so many moons.
It’s such an honor to work with individuals really set on realigning their values against the weight of their situation. To almost gleefully sit with each other’s sacred pain in a circle of notebooks, pens, and prompts that spiral into spirit on spoken word, making its way to all of us and more through so many would-be barriers, such as the weight of a fearful imagination or an echoey gymnasium.
Everyone on their own journey, arriving in the belly of this beast to find a spark of kinship you can only see gleaming from deep inside particular sets of people sitting around a table like candles, nothing but the sound of pencils ice skating across the page by moonlight.
This group of Poets found sisterhood—in tender writing, experimental storytelling, compassionate understanding, and cascades of knowing laughter that can only be shared among hearts that, too, have felt life’s dark impact, like craters on the brilliant face of our Moon.
The scars lit up on some nights belong to us all every night.
Here is to You, allowing the sun to sing on the texture of your experience, even while the world watches on from under cover of night. To you searching, stretching, making your way to your Self.
On behalf of the Enchanted Block Poets, welcome to ‘Recovery of the Broken Moon’.
viii | Foreword
Section 1: Impact Craters
Art by Kanani Legese and SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE
E Block
Living inside blocks Cold rectangles all around Hard cement, look down
—Tara May
The Definition of Insanity
A Group Poem by the Enchanted Block Poets
It’s like climbing a mountain and seeing the sunrise just to fall off the cliff
It’s like being lost in the dark, floating into the night sky, and not knowing where you’re headed
It’s like the moon slowly collapsing my chest like pedaling a broken bike
in the mud underwater
It’s like a coffin
Speak Up
You tell me to speak up if I’m being discriminated against. I do. Retaliations.
You tell me to speak up but now I’m in trouble for something my counterpart would only get a warning for.
You tell me to speak up, but shut me down. You tell me to speak up, but I’m frustrated, angry - wait hold up, I don’t want to be angry because that’s how I’m portrayed. So let me try another approach - damn. Out of options.
What a tricky word; only four letters but you are the hardest one, RACE.
—Kanani Legese
Just Gotta Get Through It
Anxiety
It's like knowing how to shoot a basketball in a hoop but forgetting how to dribble. Like diving without swimmingdrowning, suffocating. It's like bleeding in front of a hungry shark. Can’t control it. Can’t contain it.
—Kaylee Steele
I Deserted You When You Needed Me Most
Your growth should be my priority but I turned to drugs, lost in denial of love
You are a soft breeze of fresh beauty, warm and smooth across my body of water; but I leave you dehydrated.
You are the scent of fresh cut grass, a tingle on my nose, a tickle down my spine, a wiggle in my toes; but I give you nothing.
How do you bloom for me, when I don’t tend to you?
Your love is so deep, roots so entwined; You’ve chosen your place to grow.
Your Beauty shows every morning, how this can be, after my lack of attention?
—Lii Rodriguez
When You Still Danced
This was the moment you came home baby. When you still danced to finish your mechanic screw So sorry I left babeshould’ve stayed home. Trapped and stuck in this cell alone. Dear significant other. Our son, now our daughter. We miss you, I think about you.
—Nia Lumbar
It’s Made Up
The courts knew what they were going to do with me My attorney is through with me Chance after chancethe time has come to sit down, get this shit through to me You can make your life or let them take it Last strike it’s now or never
—Lii Rodriguez
Letter to My Nebil
Dear Nebil,
Baby, me and dad haven’t been there but we’re working on ourselves, to be the parents you deserve. Getting right in the mind, soul, and spirit to be the best for you, my love! I can't wait to hold you in my arms and smell you, baby, in our cozy home, full of joy and peace; leading a Christ-like lifestyle. Mommy and Daddy will give you the world and much more! I know things are hard right now, with all your hospital visits; especially with your condition and having to be in the MRI so much. Oh, baby you’re so strong! I love you! I know you’re scared - I would be scared testing at the doctors office monthly - but you’re strong. I hate that I can’t be there my love. Remember God does everything for a reason! Baby, Mommy and Daddy will be with you from here on out - thank you for your patience!
Love You Always,
Mommy & Daddy
—Kanani Legese
Section 2: Natural Satellites
Art by Kanani Legese
Dear Son
Dear son
Momma canNot wait to link arms
Mommy is thinking you got everything—man Marsh-Mellow cereal!
Our most favorite, Lucky Charms
—Nia Lumbar
Time Stopped
The moment
you were born
That moment
you first cried
Time stopped
the moment
you first smiled
that moment
you first coo’ed
Time stopped
the moment
you first moved
that moment
you first sat up alone
Time stopped
the moment
you first crawled
Time stopped
that moment
you took your first step that moment
you first said mama and dada
with that smile
—Lii Rodriguez
If My Heart Was A House
It would never feel lonely or empty
Filled with warm hugs, love, and laughter
Salty snacks, sweet treats and bubbly beverages a plenty
Where Friends are also Family
Bring the kids, bring the dogs
Let them play inside or on the lawn
Play bags, bocce, cards, spoons, and dice
Welcome any time of day
Stay for the fire, wrap up with jackets and blankets
Share stories of past gatherings while sparkling under the stars
Witness all of the glowing smiles
Comfy, cozy, and full of memories
I cherish these days, full of loved ones
if my heart was a house
—Tara May
Realization
Darkness surrounded by light
Never lost
There to remind you it’s alright like a slow song dancing on your blue soul
A butterfly floating in the ever-changing unknown
Surrounded by darkness but the light still shows through Tall Grass I Wander
Eyes wide for Her as I ponder
What Does This Life Offer?
An ocean of soft fluffy white. Through a deep, twisting rollercoaster of a maze. Now you’ve found yourself lost. Floating in the cool deep - Back To Attention. I was just in a gaze. My heart follows no direction. This way then that, no visual, no map—no visual but I can hear. No visual and I fear…because moments ago I saw you clear. Energy beaming through bare feet, warmth falling on skin, cheeks.
You remind me of the kind of loneliness that only comes from Grief.
No visual and it brings me fear
Eyes widen as I realize you were always right here
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
Friend
Coffee is her treat
Bitter to the taste, not her
D’licious she is
—Tara May
Family Recipe
Invite family and close friends
Get a head count
Create a main dish and build around it
Start with a small charcuterie board
Can’t get too full before the scratch made meal
Feed the impatient children first
Grab a plate and get in line
Don’t forget the cookies and desert
Better yet, get a second helping
Make sure to grab a seat, quickly or you might be standing over the counter
Dig out the to-go containers for leftovers
Try not to trip over each other cleaning the crumbled disarray
Always be on alert for the jabs, everyone is in the crossfire
Time to relax and take a deep breath
Eat some more treats before you pack up, For the long Minnesota goodbye
—Tara May
You Measure with Your Eyes
Small Box Of Cards, baby blue, like your eyes
Small box of cards that we never use ‘cause your mind
When I pull out a pan, you pull up a chair I don’t follow direction you pull out your hair You’re the boss the chef So I try to put pride aside you measure with your eyes
Small box of cards that holds none of Ours
‘cause of your mind, you measure with your eyes
Write them out please,
These sacred, precious recipes
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
My Angel With A Sunflower Halo
The Sun
The Light
The Stars
The Moon
How Each And Every One Gives Reminders Of You
I Watched You Fall And Didn’t Know
I Opened My Eyes To See What Life Beholds
A Mothers Scream It Could Break The Seam —Shannon Elise Mitchell
Dear Big Jer,
I miss our goofy language that only you and I could speak or understand The way you taught me how to shake people’s hands; “Look them square in the eye and grip firmly with your right”
I miss whistling to the birds through the front windows on 2nd St.
Making up our own sounds, screams, and calls Your made-up words always had everyone chuckling, trying to decipher their meaning; like “high rangers” for Hydrangeas
I miss going to car shows with you, Grandpa Don, and my Dad
I would always tag along
You would make the best buttered salami sandwiches on fresh French or Italian bread
A staple, the cooler, full of meat, cheese and Ritz crackers
I miss the smell of your speed stick deodorant
Once in a while I savor the gift of that faint musky smell
I was your number one fan, and you were mine
I hope you don’t mind me sharing the happy memories
Stevie and Sunnie would just eat you up, little tom boys just like me
Dear Grandpa Jerry, I just Miss You
Love, Tara
—Tara May
Your Creation
If My Heart Were A House It Would Remind Me Of You Which Would Make It A Home
The Smell Of Your Love Cooking From The Stove
How Can It Be That You Still Love Me?
End-Less-ly I’ve Broken Your Heart
End-less-ly
The Reason Your Depression Had A Start If My Heart Were A House It Would Be Built By You Just Like All The Amazing Things That Fill Our Rooms My Heart Were A House It Would Be Built By You
You’re Always Giving Me Chances You Tell Me “Just Start A New” My Heart Is A Home It’s Built By You
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
Summer
Sunsoaked pillow clouds above reflect off sunkissed skin
Sand blows around the beach
Mouth wide open laughing, leaving grits in your teeth
Trapped in your suit and stuck to your feet
towels fly away on gusts of joy
Watermelon, cucumber, brats and burgers, pasta salads, chips, and twizzlers
Playing in the water on unicorn floaties
Noodles, goggles, pails and shovels
No one need be excluded
All shapes and sizes, from babies to outside-the-boxelders
The warmth emulates from wide genuine smiles into the sunset aglow with happiness
Potluck
If my heart were a house, it would have swaying doors with a guard behind them.
The smell of Gain Febreeze.
My children, laughing and playing in the backyard.
If my heart were a house, there would be a picket white fence bordering the property. It would be a happy home filled with God.
A tall brick chimney of hope that reaches beyond the clouds.
If my heart were a house, whomever god set on my path would be welcome at my dinner table.
Potluck style.
Steak and chicken with baked mac and cheese. Unlimited kindness would live within those walls.
—Kaylee Steele
The Non Holy Trinity
I Am One Of Three A Friend
It’s The Best To Be You’ve Helped Me Can You See?
We Miss You Frankie And I Love You Kanani
You Are My Laughs Our Trauma
It’s Fucked Up But It Made Us Last
That’s How We Bonded Frankie You Show Me What Strong. Is Nanii You’ve Shown Me What God Is
I’ll Miss Your Wisdom Our Jokes And Time But I’ll See You Again Soon I Mean It
Just Like This Rhyme
<3
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
Section 3: Tilted
Art by Kaylee Steele
I Am
Mispronounced, misunderstood. Some days I am Nanii.
Others I am Kanani.
The kids at Edina called me Kanaynay.
The teachers called me Kenani or Keneni.
I am Kanani; misunderstood, mispronounced but
I am Kanani
—Kanani Legese
Water Lillies
At night Special times Explain, Over exaggerate. Me and my daddy smile, make exact eye contact
I know we always the same
Sounding like the name of a beautiful flower lotus’s Lillies
Water Lillies
—Nia Lumbar
Concentrate
They say everyone has ADHD, I live it
Cleaning house takes longer than expected
Start laundry, then dishes
Prep dinner – oops, bathroom too
Forgot the original task
Turning in circles
Back and forth
Room to room
Ahhh! Change the laundry
Check the food - Oops, forgot to start the dishwasher
Did I turn on the dryer?
Oh! I was going to condense the detergents!
Bathroom is clean but dinner is overcooked and laundry needs folding
Shit! It’s 8:30pm and I haven’t eaten dinner
Oofff, exhausted
But ADHD? it doesn’t exist
—Tara May
A Boy Who Can’t Make Up His Mind
When the rain falls at night it brings with it a feeling of contentment
The evenings we spent listening to the clashing of bowling balls
Watching for the electric zee’s of lightning
Losing power, sitting in the dark
Sometimes inside other times under the edge of the roof in the garage
Swaying back and forth in the black wooden rockers
Listening to your giant robot speaker, a new country playlist
Goofy looking; dancing, joking, laughing
Playfully pinching and tapping, touching each other
No concept of time
Just enjoying the company of a friendship
—Tara May
Spring Cleaning
If My Heart Was A House The Way You’d Bolt Like A Mouse Moments Of Pain
I Remember Everything Of Those Tragic Days They Leave Such A Stain They Leave Such A Stain That It’s Ruined Those Past Future Days They Leave Such A Stain So Much That It Brings No More Pain
If My Heart Were A House
I’d Tear Everything Inside All The Way Out If My Heart Were A House
I’d Rebuild It Without A Doubt
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
Mommy Time
I got dreams me and my son are racers in the hottest car.
Ain’t from here, all day I bike trying protein barschocolate kinds, Better yet! They’re my favorite Cherry chunks Hazelnut in the morning time. Mommy time.
—Nia Lumbar
Section 4: Waxing Crescent
Art by Nia Lumbar
Damage Assessment
If my heart were a house it would be broken. Bathroom tiles and sinks all cracked from misuse.
I was too kind to too many, and have been run over time after time.
Oh, my damaged heart! Now I am taking time to mend you.
Some days are better than the others but I’m repairing this house the best I can, day by day. Starting with my relationships.
—Kanani Legese
Future Self
You must let go of the hurt you hold to unfold your future
Its ok to start over from scratch
Something will come of nothing if you let it
But you have to be willing to get to an end Just try it, don’t be afraid to explore new areas, new roads, new paths You are worth it, you just have to believe it Now go
—Lii Rodriguez
Don’t Forget Right Now
My Heart Beats Fast Please
I Need This To Last Keep Looking Back To My Past The Mistakes They Fill My Mind How I Wish I Could Find A Way I Can Rewind Back To The Time Before The “I’m Fines” I Pushed You Away It Breaks Me To See Your Cries
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
A Cloudy Day
That inevitable feeling that something bad is happening. Being thrown in the deep sea. Being in a haunted house you can’t leave. These thoughts I can’t seem to escape.
—Kanani Legese
Your Will Not Mine
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can” - The Serenity Prayer
We struggle with powerlessness because it feels so much like helplessness
There is a child within all of us that says “I can do it on my own”
Before we started this Journey of recovery, it was easy to act as if fulfillment came from ownership.
In god’s plan for recovery through these trials, is a path to hope
We all long to be loved but overlook the fact that being loved always takes a place in an emotionally connected relationship
When we truly surrender, we say “your will not mine” and live Life as a celebration of victory
God grant me the strength to forgive myself for the things I cannot forgive of myself
—Lii Rodriguez
It’s Like God
So soft, so smooth, so pure
Unconditional, endless
Bow, kneel, pray
Knock, it opens
Seek, find
Ask, receive
It’s like god
You just need to Believe
It’s beauty
It’s essence
It’s fragrance
It’s presence
It’s like god
All and everything you need
Close your eyes, speak
Open your eyes, see
—Lii Rodriguez
Green
A young fern leaf coiled like the top of a violin unfurls as it grows humanly, its stem, strong and slow, at times reaches one hundred years or more
The tans, browns, and greens are earthy in color They adapt to their environment, surviving in shady damp crevices under rocks and on branches mossy, treelike palms, and shrub-like bushes Their feathery limbs flow like soft curly hair in the breeze So abundant but passed over for lack of flowers
Sad, since they are one of the eldest, most reliable beings on Earth
—Tara May
Injera, Coffee, & Tea
“I will praise You with my whole heart. In the day when I cried out, you answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.” - PSALM 138:1-3
My religion is meant to be shared like injera, coffee, tea, and prayer
Like a peaceful walk in the park with my husband or Saturday prayer at home with family and friends
—Kanani Legese
Glass House
If my heart was a house it would be made of glass
Every step must be taken ever so lightly so I don’t crack
Build a firm foundation
Insulate with compassion
Cater with love so it doesn’t chip
Splash with paint of affection
Put up drapes of gentleness
Choose the furniture of joy
Every step must be so gentle
If you can’t be gentle, take it to the yard
Picket white fence with pointed edges
Paved driveway thick as rocks
Grass of thorns
Trees like shields
—Lii Rodriguez
Goals, Elevation, Determination
A Hokku by the Enchanted Block Poets
Paper and tables
Pencils, chairs, testing, learning
Blooming minds and roots
Section 5: I am/Full Moon
Art by Kanani Legese
I’m Not Miguel, But I Love The Simple Things
My Fingers Grip The Top Of My Blankets
As I Pull Them Up To My Shoulders
Warmth And Comfort Brought To My Skin
Closing My Hazel Eyes With Ease
A
Thought A Feeling Comes To Mind
That Brings Such A Peace
No Longer Does
Closing My Eyes, Laying My Head Down
Bring Discomfort
How Grateful I Am To Have This Normality
Praise Screams Through My Chest
As This Time
On This Train Of A Ride
I Have Been Broken Enough My Heart Is Ready
I Can Appreciate This Blessing
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
I am African
I am African; curls in my hair - skin Darker than the counterpart.
I am proud though.
I am African Came here to make a name for myself and make my parents proud.
I am African
—Kanani Legese
Old Soul
I am washing-dishes-by-hand-over-using-thedishwasher
I am the shiny soft yellow butter in the clear glass Pyrex dish with the red metal lid
I am hanging-my-good-clothes-I-don’t-want-crumpledin-the-hamper
I am lake-swimming-over-pool-swimming
I am also-pool-swimming-though
I am the metal rocking chairs spray painted tan and rusting away outside
I am the old torn rope holding the tire swing that’s been there since before my time
I am the antique wagon outside holding the various colored revolving potted plants all year round
I am the sulking sad weeping willow swaying back and forth in the gusts of wind
I am the fiery orange, pink and red sunrise just above the trees shining down
—Tara May
My Favorite Recipe
teaspoon of joy pinch of gentleness
dash of patience sprinkle of acceptance topped with self-control
the recipe for Love kisses long warm hugs chats, laughs, and knee slaps memories made beautiful and happy capture each one hold it to your heart while we sit under the stars in rocking chairs next to a bon fire listen to the wood chips crack get lost in the fireflies
that’s the recipe for Love
—Lii Rodriguez
My Self-Esteem, Blowing Off Steam
Take Care Of The Women That Are In Your Life.
Wise Words Once Said From A Woman I’ve Never Met
I Heard It From A Man, So It’s No Wonder You Don’t Honor Them
How Is It That I’m So Quick To Accept The Disrespect?
When I Grew Up To See, The Perfect Example Of What A Man Should Be
Loving Me, Holding Me Close Emotionally, Abandoning Beliefs Just To Understand Me
I Have A Perfect Example Of What A Man Should Be And Still I Chose The Boys
That Run The Streets, The Ones That Don’t Really See Me For Me
Lust Mistaken For Love
That’s Where He Fooled Me
How Much Of A Fool Could I Be? And Now I’m Sharing This Aloud, I Must Be A Goofy
I’m Just A Girl
Tryna Navigate The Many Confusing Turns Of This World
The Turns, The Whirls Of This World
Made Me Lose
That Girl
The Whirls In This New World
It Never Stops Spinning
Everyone Is Fearful And Nobody Here Is Winning Stuck In A Groove
No One Is Moving
Running Underwater
Hope Is Lost
Our Thoughts Think Why Bother?
Every Action You Take Brings You Farther From The Father
I’m In Love Even Though You Show No Appeal
I’m In Love? Is What I Feel Even Real? Or A Mind-Made Emotion?
Formed To Conceal, The Feelings That Needed To Heal? Sobriety. Questioning Anything Sobriety. Clarity To Everything Sobriety. Keep Me Under Your Wing
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
Tara
My name means hillside Ferns grow in the damp dark shade
Seen in dirt or on an arm
—Tara May
Section 6: Constellations
Art by Kanani Legese
A Prayer
Three months filled with love, wisdom, shared laughter, learning, and smiles.
Beautiful and smart, you’re the best and I love you, I love you - but please stop keeping me worried for you. Hands on my forehead, endless rings in my ear, always calling with no answer. My hands folded, with you in my heart, praying that you’re making the right decisions, and taking this new opportunity.
—Kanani Legese
Constellations
Lights do wonders bringing you to me
You can’t be in my arms but I can see you in the stars through my sulfur stained slivered glass rectangle just large enough to see the twinkling in the midnight blue grey hue
I look for those constellations that connect us When I am able to trace those dots, the ones that mimic those on your body, I can feel your presence
Hoping for the time to pass quickly
To witness in real life, real time, the light, the stars in your eyes
Recently
It would fatal my heart. My mom’s passed away at age 22—
I love you on the daily, it is my part.
My second baby, Little brother
Romance, oh it takes me
You ever hesitate Recently.
Heaven thanks maybe positives
Oh it ain’t ever too late—
I have you by my side
—Nia Lumbar
Heart You
That is what I say I place my hand on your heart
Then run my palm down your face
Heart You
That’s my way of quietly showing,
saying without words
I know you don’t like it when I say itand you don’t say it back
Hopefully one day you will accept it,
accept me,
let me all the way in
Hand on your heart
Palms gently touching, sliding down your face
Heart You —Tara May
To James, Love Shannon
I Love The Way You Feel
I Can See It Now, I See You Now
Even If It Ain’t Real
It Starts With Deception And Lust
Brought Me To Admiration, Then Broken Trust
I Look Into Your Deep Eyes And I Find
Dopamine And Lust
Oh How I Crave Your Touch, I Just Need A Little But Not Too Much
Love, Laughter, Music The Most Positives We’ve Had Even Though We Don’t Really Use It
The Intimacy It Grows On Me
It Shows The Grief, The Love, Lust, And Peace
Are You The Missing Piece?
The Missing Piece, That Will Bring Me Peace?
Your Music Is Your Safe Space
I Beg You To Go To That Place
So Much Potential You Keep Letting Go To Waste
Yes, I Know That’s What They All Say
But Soon You Will Find The Time A Time
Where You Realize
The Grief Does Not Have To Overrule Your Mind
Someday I Will Look Into Those
Deep Eyes
And Know That You Have Broken Those Ties
—Shannon Elise Mitchell
My Fall
When you see the leaves changing do you think about me
When you cut your grass and shred the remnants to pieces do you think about me
When you see the pumpkins at the local hardware stores
When you see the costumes out for display
When the pictures of us in the skeleton heads pop up in your photo memories
When you are picking up pinecones does it trigger the night we threw the football at the front trees trying to knock them down
When you smell the smoke of bonfires nearby, does it remind you of the brush we used to burn
Do you remember my favorite time of year, my favorite holiday
September and October, the most memorable months of brisk moments with you
—Tara May
Photos
Your arms in my thoughts covered, laying deeply in love when we stop, stare, to read
Arttitutional Amusement Art
We kiss like the fireworks that reach our house
—Nia Lumbar
Fireworks
A Group Poem by the Enchanted Block Poets
Wrapped in a dozen fuzzy blankets
Stomach full of flutters, caramel, chocolate, and rice crispies
Flushed cheeks tingle from smiles and laughter
A warm hug from a loved one, the grand fireworks finale
I reach for your scent on my sheets, a keepsake for lavender comfort we seek
Rolling in the wild soft green of memory tickling my skin
Laying on a cool, frayed quilt under the dreamy stars
I never want to let these moments go
I feel like I’m home
Artists
Kanani Legese
Nia Lumbar
Tara May
Shannon Elise Mitchell
Lii Rodriguez
Kaylee Steele with SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE
Enchanted Block Poets
Kanani Legese, poet
Nanii is a 23-year-old poet. She is a mother to her 8-month year old son Nebil and a wife to her husband Hassan. She is a sister and daughter. She is working on changing her life around from drugging and that lifestyle. She will be free and headed to treatment as a strong Christian. She is excited about all she has learned from this class and wants to share her religion to others through poetry!
Nia Lumbar, poet
Nia from Fairview, Riverside in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was born on the Ninth month of the year on the 28th day, in the year Nineteen Ninety Nine. She is the Mother of a 5 year old with a new born coming any day now.
Nia is Smart with a strong work and writing ethic, showing up to do the work every day.
Tara May, poet
Minnesota grown like her accent.
Loves spending time chatting with family and friends.
Enjoys cooking and doing anything active anywhere outside.
Shannon Elise Mitchell, poet
Shannon Elise Mitchell was born in St. Paul, Minnesota where she was given to her parents Paul and Jill, who eagerly awaited her adoption, and are the people she cherishes the most. Shannon’s Dad, Paul, is her best friend. He has been there for her endlessly, through the worst of times and the best. Shannon would not be here if it were not for her Father’s support. Shannon Elise is a very bubbly, spiritual, and smiley 22 year old. She is passionate about being in nature and listening to music (the blues specifically, as well as SZA). She loves connecting and relating with people by learning their stories. She is very caring and protective about the people she is close to. She loves writing her own music, even though life often gets in the way. This class, this book, represents the first time she has written poetry, but journaling/writing is a big part of her life. She loves learning about our collective minds and the different ways we think. Shannon has lost many friends before her eyes, and the experiences and situations that came from not working through that pain led to the series of decisions that brought her here, where she is now gaining the willpower to live a more joyful life. She does not plan on being in jail for one day more than her 35 day sentence! When those days are done, she has many plans that will ensure she never returns! She is so excited to achieve the goals she wasn’t able to realize during active use, to put more days of sobriety under her belt, to build up herself, and fulfill her passionate vision for her own business.
Lii Rodriguez, poet
Lii is thankful for the life of Jesus Christ, her two children here on earth, and her two children in heaven. For Keith, his family, and hers. She is thankful for Teen challenge and their staff, the Washington County Police Department and the jail staff.
Lii is thankful for mercy and a second chance.
Kaylee Steele, poet
I am crazy
Kaylee
Ms. Everything-On-My-Plate
I am Adrenaline
Crazy Kaylee
I am Mommy
bruise and scratch healer
loud screaming commands
gold shimmer in the sun
I am E402 until my release date
hot Cheetos and The Hub by night
easily loved but don’t know how to love back
brave enough to smile through the struggle
I am Nenookaasi
I am Grace, Bryson, and Kalena
I am enough I am enough
I am enough.
SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE, Teaching Artist/Editor
SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE stands, works, and creates in solidarity with movements of struggle for liberation here and abroad. See More is a non-traditional, self-taught Xicané MC, Producer/Composer, Spoken Word Poet, Graffiti and Projection Mapping Artist, Filmmaker, and Educator based out of the Twin Cities, MN. Their work interweaves liberation narratives, mythology, science fiction, spirituality, and the paranormal. See More was a member of the 2022 Night Light project grant and event from Public Arts Saint Paul, and was commissioned for another projection mapping installation set to a live soundtrack again in 2023 in downtown Saint Paul on the face of the George Latimer Library. In 2022/23, he premiered ‘Seeds of Culture’, a time travel operetta combining original hip hop and spoken word compositions and recontextualized Baroque pieces in collaboration with the Minnesota Bach Society. At the beginning of ‘24, See More premiered a series of music videos as Art-films at ‘Faraway Graffiti Swamp Galaxy Resistance Type $__t!’. At the tail end of 2023, they launched a new project cooperative, ‘ox illery recordings’ with the Kaiju-tinged ‘Scum & Villainy: MegaTongues’ album featuring 10 artists from around the country and globe, and in late ‘24, See More wrapped production on ‘Slept Dawn’, the new EP by SkySpiders and the Imperceptible Web, combining the sounds, styles, and writing of See More and Kat Parent. In early 2025, See More’s short film and music video from Kat Parent’s forthcoming ‘Swampling’ album won Outstanding Music Video at the Trillvision Film Festival in LA. They are continuing production on the whole album and the complete film. See More most recently edited the poetry anthology ‘Resurrected Garden’ with incarcerated men at Washington County Jail, featured
their art work at Caydence Records and Coffee and 967 Payne Gallery for their annual Solidarity Street Gallery, and created ‘Ofrenda de Agua’, a multimedia projection map installation for Festival de las Calaveras, a community celebration of Dia de los Muertos in Minneapolis. See More is currently shooting and editing video, making beats, writing and editing poems and songs, and teaching hip hop and spoken word all over the state of Minnesota.
Acknowledgments
This anthology is the 18th volume authored by participants of the COMPAS Justice Arts writing program at Washington County Jail.
Thank you to the WCA Foundation and the St. Croix Valley Foundation for underwriting the Women’s Writing Program at Washington County Jail this year, and to the jail staff who were able to hold an in-person reading at the jail to celebrate these authors.
This anthology would not be possible without the dedication of individuals and organizations that understand the power of writing and publishing to transform lives. The Women’s Writing Program, now part of COMPAS’ Justice Arts Program, was started in 2012. Since then, more than 300 women writers have been published in over 40 anthologies. Thank you to all the correctional facilities’ staff that have championed this program for the past 15 years.
We have deep appreciation for Gwen Lerner of the Advisory Task Force on Justice-Involved Women and Girls for her project guidance and leadership. Writer Diego Vázquez Jr., and Ramsey County Correctional Facility staff member, Jan Scott were also foundational in designing the initial project, which has been sustained by invaluable collaborations. We extend thanks to MRAC, the WCA Foundation, the Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Foundation, Great River Regional Library, Saint Paul Library System, Anoka County Library Systems, Washington County Library Systems, the Saint Croix Valley Foundation, and individual donors for their support of these programs.
Many thanks to COMPAS Teaching Artist SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE for leading this program for women at Washington County Jail and to the staff who helped shepherd this project into existence.
Most of all, thank you to the Enchanted Block Poets for this courageous venture into writing.
Katie Schmieg Miller Arts Program Manager COMPAS
