Alive In Death's Stronghold
For showing us what's true
God's revealed in his every child
No matter what his hue
I've asked to meet my Jesus
And gaze upon his face
Today I know even more richly
This beauty long open to me
How beautifully he lives through every race
Stephen Pursell, 9/28/01, This photo is of a typical cell in the California prison where this poem was written. I my experience there are countless men in CDCR who like me have beautiful artistic gifts. But the evil courts and prison system of California would rather punish and abuse the men for their mistakes than see them prosper in their gifts that would contribute to their home communities and indeed to all mankind.
Though all around us thought that way
Fearing and hating the different
We simply praised our maker
In color, his and mine
We saw no outer difference
And shared of our love divine
No matter if I see him again
We sat and ate together
Where friendships never end
A brother to love forever
I knew I had made a friend
And right in that instant
Which made my Redeemer rise
Fueled by the same fire I carry
I saw two lighted eyes
As I stepped out on the tier
Against the bonds so strong
While God's spirit warred within me
Which shone bright all night long
But I have a light within me
In this place so full of hell
And again my Savior met me
Again I awoke to the morning
In the dark of my prison cell
