Prison Writes Initiative

07/13/2026

P.W.I. in World News: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/mississippi/articles/2018-06-23/teachers-fight-recidivism-with-creative-writing-in-prison?src=usn_fb&fbclid=IwY2xjawTBvhpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeLiP9lJHjf5GF-aKQgo1OjHoIavADHFmBvrmgUiHA16HgA3SOKhHVGn7GnkE_aem_MIM1RZ63RrPe5cpWEmsvrw

The lectern in the corner of the classroom at the Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility nearly reaches Myra Byrnes' shoulders.

07/06/2026

P.W.I.'S EXPRESSIVE ART WORKSHOP, JUNE 24, 2026, GRADUATION AT MARSHALL COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, HOLLY SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI. INSTRUCTOR, SALLY LOTT MCLELLAN.

06/13/2026

First P.W.I. Art workshop graduation at East Mississippi Correctional Facility in Merdian, Mississippi. June 10, 2026.

06/12/2026

First P.W.I. Art workshop graduation at East Mississippi Correctional Facility in Merdian, Mississippi. June 10, 2026.

04/30/2026

Feature in MINUTES BEFORE SIX of VOX's forthcoming Parchman Prison Poetry. Darosky Ford, Unit 29 G Bldg, A-Zone: "F***s Throwers of MSP Unit 29 Lockdown": Twin was the king of arguments and strife/I never saw a person come up with/So much s**t in all my life/Twin threatened to throw s**t on the warden/The warden said, 'with you I'm definitely not going to play'/ Twin was packed up and/Shipped off the compound the next day."

F***s Throwers of MSP Unit 29 LockdownBy Darosky Ford In Unit 29 lockdown they call itA s**t shake or getting hit with the draco.I always heard about the s**t shake,But never saw it in action with my own eyes.It is something that I really didn’t want to see,Just imagining how repulsive that could ...

04/26/2026

Minutes before Six feature of Victor Wilder who will appear in VOX's forthcoming book, Parchman Prison Poetry. In this piece he writes straight forwardly about his personal history summed up in these words:
"I was kicked out of my mother’s house at 15, sent to Mississippi at 15. Got locked up at 16 and sent to Mississippi State Penitentiary at 16 and been here ever since. Now 41." Victor passed away in the prison hospital not long after writing this.

What I Want the World to Know About MeBy Victor Wilder I want the world to know that my name is Victor Allen Wilder Jr. R2768. I was born in Chicago IL., mother died when I was 5 years old, father died when I was 12. I was kicked out of my mother’s mother’s house at 15, sent to Mississippi at 15...

04/18/2026

https://minutesbeforesix.com/poetry-by-bryant-kirk/Feature in MINUTES BEFORE SIX of VOX's forthcoming Parchman Prison Poetry. Bryant Kirk, Unit 29 G Bldg, A-Zone: "I’ve noticed the instructor has not wanted to issue supplies! May be because gang members have told him to stop giving me what's rightfully mine. Bull-Sh*t. Not to issue me folders and ink pens. I’m about to drop out of this class. F**k this s**t."

PTSDBy Bryant Kirk I’m feeling unloved mistreated. Neglected by young so call gang members’ organization bullies. Not accepting me. I’m fifty-seven years old O.G. in this s**t. But yet. I’m slow played daily, I’m not able to get water. This young negro feels like his ass is so hi and might...

04/11/2026

Feature in Minutes Before Six of VOX's forthcoming Parchman Prison Poetry. Best line of the day goes to lifer William McCain from his piece Ramblings from a Tired and Broken Lifer: "If I were a bird I’d be an eagle, soaring high above the clouds, dropping low to p**s on a crowd" What a line!

Ramblings From a Tired and Broken LiferBy William McCain I say that I don’t write poems, ‘cause frankly I hate Poetry.   But now I sit and write: problem is, I don’t have a damn clue what I might say.  As I sit here on a bunk made of metal in a building not made of much more, just like an o...

03/29/2026

P.W.I. Huffington Post article about landmark theatre workshop/play at Marshall County Correctional Facility in Holly Springs, Mississippi:

Mississippi prison graduates first class in theatrical arts

01/05/2026

VOX author Sally Lott McLellan lecture tomorrow about Intersections: Seeking Self at Parchman Prison, tomorrow, January 6th, 2026, 6:30 pm at Bozarts Gallery in Water Valley.