Born Into A Felony is the first national anthology of contemporary American prison writing ever published. Co-edited by Stewart Brisby and Walt Shepperd, with original photos such as the ones above and below by Ron Cayen, and archival photographs of prision life in the early 1900's, it contains poetry, prose, essays, art, and a rap session by people who are (or were when their work was created) in prisons all across the United States.

Nearly twenty years ago, when the 11 x 14 inch, 160 page anthology was published, The Syracuse New Times said it was "The cutting edge of American literature." Today its editors say that after more than 20 years, it still contains some ofthe best poetry they've ever read.

In celebration of the book's 20th anniversary, a poetry reading from Born Into A Felony was held at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe on New York City's Lower East Side in the Summer of 1995 by the editors - Stewart Brisby and Walt Shepperd, an original contributor - Ron King, and a new generation of literary artists - Lorca Shepperd and Sarah Jones.

THE WOLVERINE

outside every door

there stands

a wolverine

who will barter

dream for dream

.

in return for your children

& a worn out phrase

he offers a mother's lullabye

written at the bottom

of your glass

.

he barters

for your questions

your definitions

& offers a palm reading

scribbled indelibly

at the end of your syringe

.

he devours his spoils

at the foot of your bed

& is satiated by your emptiness

.

in the quiet of night

he laughs

when you bring your dreams

to the wolverine.

Stewart Brisby

(from Born Into A Felony copyright 1978)

8:07AM, DRAPER, UTAH

for Gary Gilmore

______________

You gave people little choice

compelling themselves into yourlife

compelling others

compelling decision appeals

waiting games

time to sense the pulse of apathy

.

and all you wanted to do was die

quick.

.

What was so compelling

about your life?

.

The first execution in ten years

an ultimate test

of the services provided

by the system in which you grew

organs divided up to save

the lives of others

with dignity, your uncle said

.

"bing bing bing"

your bearded literary agent

described the shots

"if there was a fourth it overlapped."

.

And that same day

in the afternoon sun

of a Dublin tenement courtyard

a lion broken free

from a passing circus

basked

for two hours

before reluctantly returning

to his cage.

Walt Shepperd

(from Born Into A Felony copyright 1978)