Hard rock returns from the hospital for the insane
There are many sources of inspiration. Quick proverbs and witty comments found in fortune cookies, those “Poetry in Motions” poems on the trains just to name a few. I doubt there will be another influential poem as “ Hard Rock Returns to Prison from the Hospital for the Criminally Insane”. The fist line opens “ Hard Rock was known not to take no shit from nobody”. I imagined my name in that sentence going down with the greats, being remembered as a person that was fearless and feared. When I first read the poem I read it over and over until I practically memorized it. I even wanted to read it in class because I was the only one who could do it justice. Hard Rock was the jail martyr and hero. It was looked up to by the prisoners and feared by the guards. He was so bad that in order to control him “ half his brain was removed” to be replaced with electricity. It must have been real fear to do that to someone.
Although I don’t believe that Hard Rock actually existed, I know he was alive in spirit. He is and was the drive and ambition that many African- Americans have today. Hard Rock is the person we become inside when we fell wronged for being black. Some of us let him out. When I read the line
It was even more interesting when the prisoners sat around exchanging stories about his accomplishments. For instance when it was said that it had taken “ eight screws to put him in the hole”. Eight officers of the law were needed to contain this one man. Who would not look forward to his return?
When he returned as a “gelded stallion” striped of his strength and vigor. That must have been like watching your mother get robed and being able to do nothing about it. That feeling of helplessness is a powerful adversary in the breaking down of men’s spirit. Much like the repeated incidents that occur in the times of today where African-Americans are repeatedly targeted for their skin tone. Recently a segment was done on the UPN station, it was titled “ Driving while black”. African- American citizens were being stopped while driving through residential neighborhoods for being black. Another incident an African-American male had gone into a police station to file complaint against an officer. He was told “ We don’t have a form just so you can bitch on”. These statements come from person who swore to uphold and protect the law, now they were breaking the law. How can any person feel they matter and their voice can be heard if as soon as they walk into a supposed safe environment they are discriminated against? Its almost can be called a jail, where people are paid to make you feel less than the human you are.
It was admirable to see that the other prisoners had not given up hope. They had come to the conclusion that Hard Rock had learned his lesson. He was being a better man. How their “ destroyer… doer of things we dreamed of doing” had now become this person. Just like one
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