"A Reflection on 'Those in Prison' by Susan Zalatan"

Sometimes, words cut deep because they reveal truths we may have sensed but not yet fully faced. Susan Zalatan’s poem, “Those in Prison,” is one such piece. It captures the heartbreaking contradiction in how we treat people in prison, stripping away their humanity while professing to “correct” them.

Reading this poem stirred something profound in me. Every line speaks to the cruel irony of our prison system—how we claim to want those incarcerated to become responsible, positive, trustworthy, and nonviolent, yet we place them in environments where these qualities are nearly impossible to develop. Instead, the system forces them to adopt survival tactics that push them further from rehabilitation and deeper into despair.

The line that struck me most is, “We want them to quit exploiting us / So we cage them where they exploit each other.” It’s an honest acknowledgment of the cycle of exploitation within prison walls—one fueled by conditions that make any real growth feel unattainable. The callousness with which the system destroys self-worth and dignity, all while calling it “corrections,” is devastating.

I've had to witness this contradiction firsthand in advocating for my husband and hearing stories from those directly affected. I’ve reached out to state officials, submitted grievances, filed complaints, and called on anyone who might listen, hoping for change in a system that seems designed to ignore its own failings. Instead of nurturing the qualities that society values—responsibility, compassion, and respect—prisons foster resentment, aggression, and hopelessness.

This poem isn’t just a critique; it’s a call to action. If we truly want people to reenter society as better, more whole individuals, then we need to rethink what “corrections” really means. We need a system that offers education, rehabilitation, mental health care, and a genuine path to reintegration.

As the Bible says, “Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3). This verse reminds us of the shared humanity we all hold, urging us to empathize and care for those who society has pushed aside. It challenges us to see prisoners not as “others” but as people who are still deserving of respect, compassion, and a chance to heal.

Zalatan’s words echo my own resolve. There is so much work to be done, but the voices that speak out—the voices of those who understand the system from the inside—are crucial. The world outside needs to understand where their tax dollars go, what they fund, and what could be achieved if those funds were used for genuine support and transformation.

Thank you, Susan Zalatan, for putting into words the pain and frustration felt by so many. We need these voices, and we need them to be heard.

#ReformNow #PrisonReform #InmateRights #HumanDignity #PowerOfOurVoices #EppersonEmpowerment

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