Reflection
By Cody Calcott
I had a dream I melted into a puddle
of water but I was able to see my
reflection in the puddle.
The wind blew causing ripples in the puddle
I faded and could no longer see my reflection
Instead I felt alone
The sun came out and I evaporated
Memories
By Cody Calcott
Thoughts of my mom flood my mind,
I feel like I’m drowning. It’s like I can’t breathe. I miss her so much.
Then, the flood passes, leaving destruction and sadness. I see a rainbow.
Memories I cherish forever. She was colorful in this dark world.
She made me feel safe. She was my best friend.
I hold onto the memories of her in my heart and I deal with the thoughts of losing her.
I won’t allow myself to drown.
The memories keep me above the water, so let the floods come but there will be a rainbow behind it.
The Wind
By Cody Calcott
Hearing the trees whisper as the wind blows,
The branches waving hello,
Grass dancing,
As birds fly above, the wind hits my face,
A light breeze in the middle of October.
The sun kissing my body, I feel refreshed.
The smell of funnel cakes
Coming from the distance in the wind
From the state fair
In the state of Texas
I Remember
By Cody Calcott
Mental is what they said
I was living in prison inside of my head
Invisible bars, unseen scars
I was locked up so far away
I refused to listen to what anybody had to say
But then I learned to play
Since then I’ve been talking to God every day
My world has changed,
I’m no longer mentally locked up or ashamed
I’m saved
Thank you God for making me the man I am today
Physically, yeah, I’m in prison
But my mind is free
And I’ve been forgiven
I’m no longer lost, I’ve been found
All of my life God has been around
I found him during my troubles and pain
Harmless, shaking under a bridge
Staying out of the rain
He was there, I remember
How could I ever forget that cold, lonely November?
Obituaries
By Cody Calcott
I read the obituaries today (7.27.24)
And a tear came to my eye
I flipped back to the front page
To read how a young girl has died
Taken away to a better place
But how she died cannot be erased
So many questions
We all wonder why
But our Creator has all the answers
Up in the sky
He knows why we die, the way we die
No matter how much we cry
Oh God … why?
So I’m praying for the families
Whose hearts hurt
The ones who lost someone they love
And had to put them in the dirt
My Squirrel Friends
By Cody Dale Calcott
I’ve been here at this facility in Seagoville, Texas, going on five months. To be exact, on the 9th of this month will make it exactly five months. During the five months since I’ve been here, I have made some squirrel friends. Yes, you read that correctly, squirrel friends. They are supposed to be wild animals but these little guys are friendly and super cool.
Let me tell you about how me and my three buddies became friends. But before I do, let me make something very clear. This is a TRUE STORY and it may be hard to believe.
I got here on May 9, 2024. Today’s date is Oct. 2, 2024. But anyway, I like wild animals and I’ve always been an outside person who likes nature. I love the woods, creeks, and back roads. Well, when I got here, someone was telling me about the animals outside. They called it “wildlife” and they told me, “Do not feed the wildlife.” I used to have a pet possum as a kid and I had a cousin who had pet raccoons. Well, talking about this brought up the subject of wildlife. So I asked what kind of wildlife they were talking about. They said, “You will see all different types of animals that come and go during the year. Ducks, skunks, snakes, cats, and of course, my little buddies: Squirrels. Well, one day on my way to chow (lunch), I saw a squirrel walking really close to us inmates, so I knelt down and made a noise with my mouth, the same noise you would make if you were calling your pet dog to you. Well, to my surprise, and a bunch of others’, the full-grown squirrel came right up to me and sniffed my hand and then ran off. So I got to thinking if I’d had food in my hand, I could have fed him. So when I got back inside the unit I tried to think of something I could feed him the next time I’m outside. Then a friend of mine came up with an idea. I can’t take credit for it. It was all his idea but let’s just say I’ve been feeding them ever since.
Here’s what he came up with: tortilla wraps with peanut butter on the inside and sliced up into a bunch of pieces. We call these “scooby snacks,” so the next time I was on my way to chow, guess what I had in my pockets? Scooby snacks! And guess who I ran into by the sidewalk? My little soon-to-be friend squirrel. I knelt down, made the noise with my mouth, and he came up. I held my hand out with the scooby snack in it and he took it. He stayed there and began eating right in front of me.
I could not stop smiling and the others around me could not believe what they were seeing. I looked at this squirrel and said, “I’m going to give you a name.” I named him Jack. Well, as days went on, I kept feeding him and then one day I saw another squirrel running around with Jack. I gave her a name too. I named her Jill. She, too, would eat scooby snacks out of my hand. Well, just the other day I came across another squirrel. He was much younger and very hyperactive, jumping all over the place. I named him Spazz.
I now have three squirrel friends that I look forward to seeing every time I go outside. It’s always the small things in life that can bring so much joy. Thank you for reading.
Our World
By Cody Dale Calcott
So many things in this world
Don’t make sense
Commercials of starving kids you can help,
Save for 15 cents
Soldiers who fought for us,
Homeless vets
Teachers who barely get paid,
Behind on rent
Oh and don’t forget,
Firefighters risk their lives for us every day
Again, barely above minimum wage
Crazy to say,
Being told in public not to pray …
Jails overcrowded, sleeping on floors
Give to the rich, steal from the poor
Married to get divorced, “2024”
Americans killing each other,
Addictions and single mothers …
Going to prison and not getting help,
Just to be thrown back into society
To defend for yourself
The world needs help, but we’re all blind
We reach out for help but then turn to crime
It’s not right we live in the dark and refuse the light
I’m just an inmate, No. 44940510
So what do I know?
My Window
By Cody Dale Calcott
As I lay in my bed
I can see out my window
If only I could fly, I thought
I’d still be stuck
Thoughts flood my mind
As I look out my window
Outside is so close
But yet so far away
When night comes, my window goes dark
Then I see a light off to the distance
I fall asleep and dream of looking in at
Myself sleeping on the other side of my window
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