Last week’s Notes From Exile was about my daughter, Meredith. This week, another entry from my prison journal. This one about my oldest son, Jay, and the painful recognition of the impact my incarceration had on my children.
JAY-BIRD
I spoke with my son
yesterday.
Oldest boy,
beautiful boy—
like the song,
only I can’t really remember
it.
But somehow fits.
How beautiful he
was,
prepped and cleaned on his
mother’s chest,
nurses gleaming at
his smooth black
hair.
Elegante my wife
described.
I recall all his travails
from then till
now.
None worse than
this,
my greatest
sin.
If this piece resonated with you, consider sharing it or leaving a comment. To support this work and help spread awareness about justice reform for white-collar defendants, subscribe to White-Collar Journal and stay connected. John DiMenna is a member of the White Collar Support Group.
To leave a comment, Substack may ask you to verify your email address (a one-time step to prevent spam). You don’t need to subscribe or create an account. Just check your inbox for a one-time link.