Out of Sight – Out of Mind

By Chris

I recall a professor telling students to imagine prison-life monotony like the movie Groundhog Day. But an error exists in such analogy. Groundhog Day was a comedy – prison is a tragedy! People may wonder what sorrowful scenario compares to being imprisoned. Few actually care which is why so many ignore those helplessly caged and why prison oppresses with such impunity.

Wandering the desert near death, a thirsty man covets water. Hope flows when another man appears on a camel drinking from a bottle to offer a drink. The parched man lifts his weary arms. But the other only takes another drink repeating the offer. Over and over the thirsty man reaches and never receives a drink. Eventually the man and camel fades. What havoc befalls such perishing man’s hope?

It is a scientific fact that if biological communication is severed in the human body, cell death occurs. Starved of fluid and fuel the body expires. Spirits also die incrementally when contact to the living is severed. If hope fades to dust all that remains is a broken heartless vessel.

Like many of my fellow cagelings here for years, I have written many letters receiving few replies and called people voicing visits that never arrive. Such is the parched frustration of many suffering here under the growing boot heels of the state.

Prisoners longing to reach the outside can try repeatedly, but being denied and ignored many wish they never tried at all. Such hope in vain results in foolishly feeling more helpless. Thirsted visits, Christmas and birthday cards never arrive. Few may even despise seeing mail, phones, or imagine returning to the living world.

For prisoners trapped behind walls of stone with nobody waiting on the other side what hope have they left to hold? Each failed attempt to reach someone outside can painfully drain their soul. It is why many lose hope and close down their hearts. A few might even prefer wandering the deserts to die free rather than fade away to dust in prison alone.