Poetry by Edward Belton
Soldier’s AnthemI pledge allegiance to the past from which I’ve came,and to the republic of this…
Edward Belton 0027509
Piedmont Correctional Institution
1245 Camp Road, Salisbury, NC 28147
Hi, everyone. My name is Edward (Eddie) Belton. I am currently a LWOP (Life Without Parole) inmate in North Carolina. I was arrested and began my sentence in May 2003 at the age of 27. As a misguided youth influenced by a challenging environment, I developed early patterns of making poor decisions. As a result, I’ve spent the previous two decades diligently seeking to learn from my past and rectify my mistakes to the best of my ability. This ever evolving and ongoing process of growth and maturity includes furthering my education as well as speaking to at-risk groups and with state and community leaders about my experiences, in an effort to raise awareness regarding issues of youth entanglements and mass incarceration. So many common pitfalls continue to entrap our younger generation and cripple our judicial system.
With the support of family and friends, and by focusing on my spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being, I’ve been able to overcome many of my earlier struggles. I’m now a college student, a published author, and a mentor to others inside my prison community who find themselves along similar paths as I have traveled. I’m a father and remain close to my son despite years of physical separation. I’m a proud man of faith, an avid reader, I enjoy sports and movies, and as a writer, I’m always on the lookout for any opportunity to share my thoughts through verse and the art of storytelling. A journey that offers me both peace and purpose, for which I am ever grateful.