ATMOSPHERE

BY

AL CUNNINGHAM (E-22600)
SAN QUENTIN PRISON (NSS-25)
SAN QUENTIN, CA  94974

        A state of darkness has fallen over me like instant coffee in a cup of water, clouding my world with liquid illustrations of hypothetic circumstances beyond the realm of my control and reality.  Sucked in like dirt into a vacuum cleaner, I have become a prisoner to a monstrosity far beyond the sophisticated individuals imagination, where the cliche "dog-eat-dog" and "the strongest survives", is the only state of existence, and violence is the medium of exchange.

        Intellectualism is far from the scope of comprehension, and reflected upon only in times of stress of private tete-a-tete.

        A constant state of adolescence is practiced, due to the inner-fear of mature and adult responsibilities.  Atmospheric pressure tends to play a great part within the daily behaviour patterns and personality alterations, creating a subsequent negative attitude towards intellectual progress.

        Fallacy and fabrication is the tuition and basic essential tools of acceptance within this atmosphere, where false images and pseudo-representation is the common denominator of unity.

        Like a black spot on a white sheet of paper, I struggle for mental survival and individuality within this wild jungle of monstrosity.  Seperating myself from the jungle characteristics and inheritance of this world.

        I osculate the events of my past life with the pleasant memories and dreams of my personal encounters to balance the effects of the present environment to escape its' reality which torments my existence.  However, the constant state of despotic use of power hangs over my head as a constant reminder of the reality I am forced to suffer and endure.

        Oh, what manner of existence is this, that I am to suffer for the benefit of another's careen, for another's sadistic fantasies, for another's superiority complexes?  Under the cloak of legal justification.

        I find that maintaining a daily degree of sanity in this place can be a struggle within itself.  Undergoing the psychological changes, humiliations and harassments on a constant daily level, in many degrees and forms.

        With the daily increase of population, the erratic personality changes, alternates constantly, thus preventing the establishment of a substantial friendship to develop between strangers.  And previous established relationships of reactionary group acquaintances tend to unite more dominantly in forces and creates most atmospheric pressures.  Subsequently, resulting in disastrous developments, and infernal nuisance with an instiable thirst for violence.

        There are times when I seem to drift along without a sense of purpose, seemingly to a lazy indolenced and dissipated individual with an obstinate disposition.  But upon inventory of my complete situation, I soon realize that it's the environment's irritation which creates the conflicting emotions and fluctuations within my personality.

        If what we classify as a progressive society would really and truly observe the decadence incarceration causes within the character of those confined, I'm sure that another form of corrective measures would promptly be correlated to form a much humane and effective reform of rehabilitation.  That is of course if rehabilitation is what society today really wants.