Blog

Filter By:

AdvocacyAnalysisBlogCommentaryDramaEssayEventFeatureFictionGraphic NarrativeInterviewMemoirNewsObituaryOpen LetterPoetryPress ReleaseProfile

Browse By Series:

PEN Poetry Series •  Prison WritingThe PEN Ten InterviewsIllustrated PEN • Pen PalsThe PEN World

Browse By Email Subscription:

PEN America NewsEducational Censorship NewsWorks of Justice 

Free Speech Wars

Ozzy Osbourne is notorious 'round these parts for once watering down our shrine of liberty, the Alamo. On April 2, 2004, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice did worse… More

Letter to a Daughter

Dear Lori,Thank you for your latest. Do you remember about ten years ago when I was in the hospital with a kidney stone? I think I have them again. As… More

The Whitfeld Files

Author's Note This is a work of nonfiction. The descriptions of events are based on personal experiences of the author, court transcripts, affidavits, law enforcement documents, reports, and audiotaped interviews,… More

Brother Oak

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he… More

Labyrinth

Missouri State Prison looks like it was pulled up by the roots and transplanted block by block, wall by wall, tower by tower, massive iron gate by gate from… More

Horse the Caterpillar

In the world that I lived, I felt attached to its walls. These walls had no corners for there was no place to hide.In the beginning of this life… More

Buddhism in Prison

The Martha Stewart verdict is screaming from the headlines as I begin to write these lines. Martha used to be something of an idol to me. Before landing in… More

Father

At 13, banished from homehe learned not to trust.Brilliant, he doubted his brilliance,and crept downstairs to grab exam resultsbefore others. To no one’s surprisebut his, he had topped the… More

Chris Early: Sheryl

Legs parted like a pie with one slice eaten inside a la mode thighs angle over sour sheets. They are silk. A guitar sleeps beside her, always, and I am stoned again, nude, seated on carpet, waiting… More