The following were written by the men in various workshops over the past few weeks.

A tree has a long life span

Like lovers expect when they grow together

Sometimes those lovers make love over time

Like a tree that grows fruit

Or like a couple that has kids

The more you water it

The better it becomes

And the longer the life span grows

From the beauty of nature

by Anonymous

The image in front of me shows a boat with two individuals

Sailing toward a mind

The mind is shown as a brain

In the middle of the body of water

While another mind sits further back

What this signifies to me

Is that these two individuals are trying to find

Sanity

By reaching the inside of their own minds

Through a journey

They share this journey together

And must overcome it together

Only then can they find sanity

And live in peace

I believe the journey they undertake

Is taking place subconsciously

While they lay unconscious

In the physical world

They have a band or link

Driving their minds into one

by Anonymous

It’s forming like a tidal wave

But looking more like a dragon

With teeth like mine

I think I see a choo choo train

Trying to escape from its chompers

by S.L.

As I look in the mirror

I see a face that reflects Death

Through the pain and the lies

That are laid to rest

I hear screams echo through that man’s chest

One chance

One life

I guess I failed the test

by C.S.

I want to live in a world

That doesn't judge a book by its cover

Here is what I know for sure

That people change

by E.G.

My daily routine in county jail

Is something that I do everyday

Wake up and thank God

For another day of livin’

by M. L.

I believe life is what you make it

And you could do what you want

As long as you put your mind to it

I want to live positively

I could be successful when I get out

And do what I desire

And accomplish my goals in life

by R. R.

I believe in God and second chances

I want to live in a world where there is peace and not violence

Here’s what I know for sure

One day

I’ll be home

by R.B.

In honor of  Halloween, the women wrote stories or poems that were inspired by a collection of ghost stories and scary stories.

Probably about 7 or 8 months ago, I was walking on the West Side of Santa Cruz late at night.  I kept feeling like something/one was following me but every time I looked back there was nothing.  So I just thought nothing of it and kept walking.   I turned back again cuz it really either felt like something was there or I had heard something and when I turned back to look it felt like something was right there behind me.  I jumped about three inches forward faster than I ever thought I could move and after that it stopped.

By N.R.

Love’s Ghost

Spirits, demons, the very presence

            of the paranormal

The super-natural, the scary.

Bone-chilling screams and

A whole lot of the unknown

I am excited, intrigued

By that of which we can’t always see.

You see what terrifies me

Is my past history

            Repeating as my reality

The presence of your love

            Lingers

Like the high of my favorite

Drug

The ghost whispering “I love you”

            In the middle of the night

The phantom embrace

            After I turn out the lights

The out of this realm bond

The unseen connection

            The ultimate lovers song.

The gentle tease of your fingers

            On my lips

When I close my eyes…

In your absence

I invite your ghost

To haunt me all the time

Demons don’t scare me

Life without your touch terrifies me.

By E.