question_answer ANECDOTE Reentry and Family ios_share
Reginald Dwayne Betts's poem "Essay on Reentry" discusses his past imprisonment and its impact on his family.
His youngest son learns about his past at 2 a.m., prompting reflection on his life's complexities.
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insights INSIGHT Complex Identity ios_share
Betts's poem explores the multifaceted nature of identity, encompassing his roles as a father, son, and former inmate.
The poem acknowledges the ongoing punishment of reentry and the weight of his past actions.
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insights INSIGHT Time and Memory ios_share
The poem utilizes distinct scenes and manipulates time to convey the weight of Betts's experiences.
It juxtaposes past and present moments, highlighting the lasting impact of his imprisonment.
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Get the app This ‘Essay on Reentry’ charts life after prison: and the way that others keep your sentence alive even when you’re wishing to just get on with your own life. It’s about secrets and choice and disclosure. And in the midst of all this, there is also love between a son and his dad, a son like a “straggling angel, / lost from his pack finding a way to fulfill his / duty.”
Reginald Dwayne Betts is the author of a memoir and three books of poetry. His memoir, A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison Shahid Reads His Own Palm Bastards of the Reagan Era Felon
Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org .
