Steven LaWayne Nelson is incarcerated on death row Texas. He is also a poet and writer. Here are a selection of his poems. More to follow soon:-
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
A voice echoes in the dark with no one to hear trepidation in the voice A real sense of fear A man’s entombed as if dead Placed on death row An outcast of the world With no empathy shown a dead man in a casket Even he gets a string in case he comes alive There’s a bell for him to ring that man on death row needs a bell to toll His voice echoes in my heart so this poetic string I pull. |
BROKEN!!!
In all those around me I see There is something that astounds me; It is also there in the mirror, That thing that links us together, A genetic marker from earliest history Belonging to the whole human family I mourn it in myself I pity it in all else For every malicious and unkind deed For every evil and hatefully planted seed For every hurtful and mean word spoken It’s all because we are broken Shattered from a deep within Inclined to every despicable sin; We are hurt and longing for love Yearning for healing from above... read more |
DIVINE LOVE
Trust in the fact I will never leave you nor turn my back on you. Trust in the fact Wherever you go or live, that I am with you. Trust in the fact I will always be loyal to our people of faith. Trust in the fact I wish to reside wherever you are. Trust in the fact In life and light we will never be separated. |
A LETTER
A letter slid under my cold steel door reminds me that I am not without friends. How I have hungered for word from you. I anticipated your letter, it warms and enlivens me and I take comfort in it. I wonder what made you take that first step and write? What magnetic field first drew us Together? Destiny? Fate? Karma? Predestination? Recalling with a smile how cautious you were in the beginning Asking questions… How does it feel to live on death row? What is solitary confinement like? How do you stand the desolation? What are your thoughts? In the beginning you were a stranger, but somehow so familiar. Your supportive words reminded me of who I am. Seeing life’s simple beauty through your eyes moved me out of the darkness You brought depth and breadth again to what being human is. Our friendship was not a simple moment.... read more |