Carta de Un Preso

With much love and all due respect
for all those who are locked up.

The sun no longer shines
in the corner where I sit.
I know it's useless to try to get you back.
I can't think of any more excuses to give you,
just walls, a fence, and this confinement.

Promise me
that when we lie to our kids,
I don't want them to think I'm a bad dad.
If the need for bread knocked on my door,
I'll die trying to make sure they don't go without.

Tell my friends you've moved on,
that you don't care or feel hurt if I'm dead.
It's just for a while until I get out of this cage,
which shames me because I never wanted this.

I swear it was necessity, not a whim.
I swear I'm already paying for my mistakes.
Just tell my mom what's going on;
she's the only one who can heal my pain.

I had to make a mistake to realize how important freedom is...

I only ask you, Your Honor, I'm not lying.
Only God knows I haven't lost my shame.
Seeing my kids who have nothing and are begging
were reasons that broke my conscience.

I understand it,
and even though I know it's too late,
I'll serve my sentence, and I promise.
I spoke with God and promised to pay my debt
because He's the only one who knows I'm not lying.