Prison Camp: Letters
A White-Collar Journal forum for criminal justice, lived experience, and the personal search for redemption
There are long stretches in prison where routine takes over. You work, you read, you exercise, you pass time. But underneath, things you avoided for years line up and wait. Some of those thoughts take the form of letters. Letters you write but don’t send. This is one of them.
Letter to Sherman (unsent)
How many times I almost opened to you,
those regular lunches we both savored
and treasured like lifesaving gatherings,
which they were to us, each in our own
despairing. You disclosed yours to me but
I declined, much to our collective demise,
although in different ways, and then an
unforgiveable betrayal. No taking back.
And how I tried to heal your pain but
only served you a final confirmation of your
natural belief in hopelessness of outcomes.
No worse sin than that my friend, forgiveness
muted out the last day we met and spoke
only in code.
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.
Up Next on White Collar Journal:
Wednesday (Justice Notes): Criminal Justice Reform
Thursday (Notes from Exisle): Log/Verse: Daily, fragmented reflections
Sunday (Prison Camp): More Stories from prison
If you’re new to White-Collar Journal, you can read earlier chapters and essays on incarceration, justice, and reentry at whitecollarjournal.com.
Thank you for reading White-Collar Journal. Subscribing is free, and I hope you’ll continue with me as I explore stories of incarceration, justice, and redemption.
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.
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