The following are the result of a prompt in which we attempted to dispel myths surrounding the labels that are given to us.

H/D Unit

As an incarcerated person I am undermined as a criminal

Just a number. But in truth, I'm a caring person who cares a lot for other others' well being when possible. Also I'm a father that is kept away from my child and has done everything to be there and to prevent from ever being taken away again.

As a man I've realized that a man is not one who is violent or the strongest and even prejudiced, thathe is the key to the family. I'm a man as a nurturing and understanding person that sees the whole picture. I'm not the key, but the chain that tries to hold things together.

As a writer I express feeling through paper and pencil, which is hard for most but easy for few that let the pencil flow through and let it do its work like it had a mind of its own. Details that could not be explained by words easily come to be in paper with a simple pencil.

As a 20 year old, I'm close to being of drinking age :) yeah

As someone from the ethnic Mexican background, usually kept down, meant to work minimum wage jobs, be in a gang... I've done the impossible and turned my back and set forth to prove this wrong.

As someone with Catholic beliefs, I know God is my savior and have hope to be a better person.

-A.R.

As an incarcerated person there are 3 ongoing battles... 1) The battle against officers 2) The conflicts and controversy against other inmates 3) The worst... the battle against our own imaginations, where out minds can manipulate our hearts.

As a man: The essence of a man is to lead by example, move with conviction, honor and integrity. And to provide for his family. And loyalty to his fellow comrades.

As a 29 year old, I'm coming to understand the importance of using caution and discretion.

As someone from the ethnic background Aryan: The word “Aryan” is Sanskrit for honorable/noble... it means Indo-European. I'm Irish/English.

As someone with Nordic beliefs: Any religion that goes against the laws of nature are FALSE.

As humans, it's in our nature to evolve and change.

As dropouts: The majority of us still hold fast to our values and morals.

-D.F.

As an incarcerated person I want people to know that I'm not a violent or bad person. I'm a father to three kids who I truly care about and love with all my heart.

As a man, I have morals and values

As a writer, I could write about anything, but I prefer not to at this moment.

As a 29 year old: BE

-M.S.

As an incarcerated person: It doesn't mean I'm a bad person. I think everyone makes mistakes in their lives.

R.B.

As an incarcerated person: I am a man of my word. I'm a hard worker and a father of an 8 year old daughter. I'm not a bad person, I just have some bad habits.

As a writer: I'm able to escape from the world and express myself and my true feelings.

S.L.

G/H- Unit

An an incarcerated person, I became a woman in recovery. As everyone around me that legally fuck me, doubts everything I say and my motives due to my past and all the labels people place on drug addicts in jail. I guess I'm the only person who truly believes and knows where I am in my life.

-A.

As a writer, pen & paper's all I got, to get out of my head and release my thoughts. Growin up fast I smoked a lot of pot. All from experiences I've been taught. Say everything is for a reason, been thru hell in every season, believe in Fate, miracles and no regrets, learn from the past and don't forget, all my troubles , friends & hardships shit engraved in my memory will never tarnish. Missin my Miah, the cigarettes and more. Can't wait, in a few years, I'll be out these doors, continuin' my life, never lookin' back, back to my skate & a foreseen relapse.

-S.G.

As an incarcerated person I am a non-entity. I am powerless over myself, and not in control of my life. I am imprisoned in spirit and thought. I am careful not to dream. My dreams are lost to me now. Where they have gone to, I cannot say. I know that new ones are born of the seed of hope. I carefully hide the seeds of new dreams in the far corners of my mind, lest they spill out onto the floor, and are lost under a judge's boot. If I am quiet enough, I may have a spark of life left to carry out of here when I go.

-K.C.

The following a from a prompt in which we wrote a piece of micro-fiction, a story in a few words:
H-Unit

 Beautiful grey eyes that hide no lies. I was wrong.

-A.B.

And strike three, the Giants win, the Giants win the Pennett.

-D.F.

Hi, bye. Bye, hi. It's all the same, we all die.

-I. F.

Created by man, inspired by nature. The swan is made out of scratch paper

-J.

G-Unit

Hard concrete cold ground, on the cardboard I slept sound.

Turn to the left then to the right. Seein' through clouds that are thick and white.

-S.G.

Mom met Jeff, mom sells her house... Wow!

Stress. No sleep. When's court?

-A.

I took my paycheck to the store. I brought a package home.

My car sits at the beach, watching the tide roll in.

The radio is playing music. Who's playing me?

-K.C.

From a prompt in which we attempted to fill two whole pages without stopping.

H-Unit

Sometimes I have a lot on my mind, especially to write. Because when I get in the zone to write, my pencil just starts flowing. But I enjoy writing in private, (my cell) less distraction. Maybe because I hold so much emotion inside. I have thoughts processing at all times, I guess you can call me a deep thinker. But as soon as I try to remember and jot down my ideas or thoughts, I've already forgotten or it doesn't come out the way it did. I'm a dreamer, my mind wanders in here. My imagination runs deep like Jerry Rice on a Monday night in candle stick. It's sharp like Shannon and rich like Gannon. Most of my thoughts are about my little girl, just wondering how she's doing. Or sometimes it's about love, something everyone craves. Or at least myself. Then there's sports, just wondering if the Warriors are going to make the playoffs this season, “I still believe...” and then there's the SF Giants, just wishing I was able to watch all their games, or even just hear them on the radio with John Miller and Dave Flemming on KNBR 680

-S.L.

I feel so alone, I know I ain't home, not even close. Don't know who is who, what face they show can be their true form waking up within it was at least somewhere I know People asking who I know thinking I'm just unknown if only they knew I can put them all in one place and think of many ways how I've been through so much more pain just cause I got away. I'm a hidden shadow to my own self, not knowing if they can tell. I don't know if I can let go of a past that hurt even til now. I know that they think I'm fake. Look at me is all I can say. My scars go deeper than just physical. So think where I come from and all that bloodshed I used to be proud of. These tats on my face. Now I hope that with my past, they will fade. Childhood lost at an early age. How I wish my life was an hourglass so I could flip it and start again. Do you want details to my life? Streets, names, dates, so you can believe what I say? I'm kind and weak to those who seek to be my friend. How I wish I was cold and cruel like back in the days... then you dudes would see that I don't play. But then again, I'm happy cause I know I'm one of the few that got away from the cruelest town in this side of Cali. Intentionally saying that I ain't true cause I do not glorify the things I used to do. If I did, I'd be a monster like the ones in cartoons. How I wish I wasn't me. Helpless man at the feet on you-know-who.. Waiting to see if they'll let me go soon. My life on the line, it ain't no joke. I jeopardized it all just to look cool. I used to think this was all I wanted to be, a g just like my family. Now I see why they left. Cause in a city where shots ringing out seems like a normal thing, you'd be lucky to live til 15, not knowing what street is the last street you'll see. I'm from a city of gun and smoke where people die just to be known.

-A.R.

The following pieces were given to me, not as part of a  prompt, by a talented woman in G-Unit:

Mother, Forgive Me

The woman that brought me into this world has gone through so much hurt and pain.

For she don't understand the game,

the lifestyle drove her insane.

Hidden behind her walls she carries my burden, guilt and shame.

I ain't a little girl my needs are no longer the same.

I have an addition beyond my control.

It crept up and took my soul.

All my struggles and sorrows drugs and alcohol got me through

An addict's mind is sick and really believe it's true.

We don't realize that burying ourselves is all we do.

It's a vicious cycle, “we play the fool.”

I'm sorry for letting you down time and time again.

Can't you see I need you to be my friend?

I've lived my life good and bad.

It was my choice, don't blame yourself, don't feel sad.

All my mistakes were lessons in life I had to learn.

I'm ready to brush off my knees and make a drastic turn.

In my own hell I will no longer burn.

Tired of all the tears and jail walls.

I'm ready to shine and stand tall.

Mom, please hold my hand so we can walk a new path.

Let go of my demons, they can haunt us no more.

They were never yours to hold.

You've always done the best you can please understand

You are my mother who I adore.

Please forgive me from your soul's very core.

I'm sorry for breaking your heart.

My addiction won me over from the very start.

It was my own fault.

If I could turn back the hands of time, God knows I would.

I'd turn it back to time when I had you!

I miss your laugh, your beautiful smile!

You're still alive and don't have to walk the green mile.

Let go and set yourself FREE!

Forgive yourself and forgive me!

For my addiction has hurt you more than it hurt me.

Oh God, how could this be?

Open her heart and eyes to help her see.

This was the life God planned for me.

Now my story can save someone like me!

Dedicated to my mother

From: S. A.

Insanity

Is a vicious cycle, we play the fool

So wrapped up in our own thoughts, feelings and wants

Never looking at the big picture

A hunger for a addiction beyond control

takes over our very souls

Believing that drugs and alcohol make us complete

That's a battle where we can't compete

Believeing that life bhind bars is sweet

not valuing freedom, friends and family, our insanity defeats

Insanity believing violence is love

thinking that they hit because they care

Thinking this is all life planned for me

jails institution and death

Not thinking of the ones we've hurt the most

Us You Me and I

-S.A.

My Burden No More

It's been three years since you passed away.

You took your life and I led astray.

I loved you so much how could you betray.

My trust, my life, you brought back the past.

So confused I lost it fast.

I was all yours from the very start.

I never thought you'd break my heart.

I've carried your burden for three years, I can't no more.

This burden isn't mine to carry or store.

Loving you so much has given me the gift to forgive.

For all your wrongs and mine too.

I can no longer live in denial like I have no clue.

I gotta accept what the hardest thing but true.

The truth now set me free.

Can't you see God is carrying me?

Through the hardest thing in my life.

You wounded my heart it was stabbed with your knife.

You never stopped to think twice.

Thank you for all the good you brought to my life.

One day I would have been your wife.

Thank you for taking the sin from me.

I'm sure you understand what I mean.

This burden of yours can haunt me no more.

It's time to pick up the pieces of my heart you tore.

I forgive you and can only dream that you forgive me.

I gotta let you go, you are now set FREE!

Your Demon, your sin can no longer hold me down.

I'm back on my feet walking on solid ground!

Dedicated In Memory of A.H.

Always, S.A.

The following are the result of a Creation Myth Prompt, where we first wrote how the world will end, and then how it will be re-created:

H-Unit

Destruction

In the end, the creator decides the Earth is ready for harvest. So, with his tummy rumbling, he snatches it up and consumes the Earth with a belch.

Creation

Beings came together after the creator ate the Earth. It was eaten before it was ripe. Upset that it was eaten early, they feasted on the creator. Doing this gave them the knowledge of creation. So, they put their heads together to create the seeds for the next harvest. When their heads were together, they could not get them apart, so they came to be the next creator. Becoming one being, they got bored, so they created every possible possibility, thus creating the Earth on every plane, including the one we live in today.

-Jb

Destruction

The Sun explodes & fries the Earth with it's explosion, then Earth freezes because the Sun is gone, leaving a lifeless rock behind.

Creation

There was a Platypus God who, though he was all powerful, couldn't change its own image. It knew it looked like a freak, so it made itself invisible. It then created the world and everything in it. It watches over and controls everything, but you can't see it. Because it's invisible because it was weird looking. But it still has love for everyone and looks out for them. Except for the ones who don't bow to it's invisible image... they get fucked off.

-J. M.

G-Unit

Creation

The myth I would create in my world would be to believe in someone, allowing them to grow at their own pace. Never giving up. Not passing judgment or criticism. Sincere help, love, acceptance, growing and understanding with each individual. Punishment would be helpful with their struggles, to help them become better people. Unconditional love and acceptance, guidance, and understanding. Allow individuals to grow at their own pace, giving them the opportunity to change, make mistakes and fix them, learning the valuable lessons in life.

-S. A.