Tom has shared some passages from the book he's reading, he recommends it.
I say if it is a help to Tom where he's at, I take notice. He is truly unique because he survives this pit, this gray box existence. He has said "I'm not going to let them win" So that's part of his resilience.
Here are the passages he wrote out for me:
"...In the one case that confidence may not fall asleep, and the other that it may not be dismayed. For a thing to remain undone nothing more is needed than to think it done. On the other hand, patient industry overcomes impossibilities. Great undertakings are notto be brooded over, lest their difficulty when seen causes despair..."
"Peaceful Life, a Long Life
To live, let live. Peacemakers not only live: they rule life.
Hear, see and be silent. A day without dispute brings sleep without dreams.
Long life and a pleasant one is life enough for 2: that is the fruit of peace.
he makes nothing of what is nothing to him. There is no greater perversity than to take
everything to heart. There is equal folly in troubling your heart about what does not concern you
and not taking to heart what does."
he meant these for me because I am troubled upset and do not sleep mostly because of what I can not change; Tom's situation for one.
Happy reading if this has helped anyone out there please leave a comment.
Tom has told me he's creating right now...drawing I hope to have new art to show off soon.
3 comments:
WHAT WILL MATTER IS A POEM I WROTE WHILE INCARCERATED IN SAN QUENTIN IN 1986 IN THE SHU PROGRAM IN NORTHBLOCK FOR ASSAULT ON STAFF (A GUARD) READY OR NOT,SOMEDAY IT WILL COME TO AN END. THERE WILL BE NO MORE SUNRISES, NO MINUTES, HOURS OR DAYS. ALL THE THINGS YOU COLLECTED,WHETHER TREASURED OR FORGOTTEN, WILL PASS TO SOMEONE ELSE. YOUR WEALTH OR FAME WILL SHRIVEL TO IRRELEVANCE. IT WILL NOT MATTER, WHAT YOU OWNED, OR WHAT YOU WERE OWED. YOUR GRUDGES, RESENTMENTS, FRUSTRATIONS AND JEALOUSIES WILL FINALLY DISAPPEAR, SO TO WILL YOUR HOPES, AMBITIONS, PLANS, AND TO DO LISTS EXPIRE. THE WINS AND LOSSES THAT ONCE SEEMED SO IMPORTANT WILL FADE AWAY.IT WONT MATTER WHERE YOU CAME FROM OR ON WHAT SIDE OF THE TRACKS YOU LIVED ON AT THE END. IT WONT MATTER IF YOU WERE BRILLIANT OR BEAUTIFUL, EVEN YOUR GENDER AND SKIN COLOR WILL BE IRRELEVANT. SO WHAT WILL MATTER? HOW WILL THE VALUE OF YOUR DAYS BE MEASURED? WHAT WILL MATTER IS NOT WHAT YOU BOUGHT, WHAT YOU BUILT, WHAT YOU GOT, BUT WHAT YOU GAVE. WHAT WILL MATTER IS EVERY ACT OF INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, COURAGE OR SACRIFICE THAT ENRICHED, EMPOWERED OR ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO EMULATE YOUR EXAMPLE. WHAT WILL MATTER IS NOT YOUR COMPETENCE, BUT YOUR CHARACTER. WHAT WILL MATTER IS NOT HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU KNEW., BUT HOW MANY WILL FEEL A LASTING LOSS WHEN YOU'RE GONE. WHAT WILL MATTER IS HOW LONG YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED,AND BY WHOM AND FOR WHAT. LIVING A LIFE THAT MATTERS DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. IT'S NOT A MATTER OF CIRCUMSTANCE BUT OF CHOICE. CHOOSE TO LIVE A LIFE THAT MATTERS.
BY RICHARD BUMPER HARTLEY JR.
AUTHOR OF PRISON ADVENTURES MEMOIRS OF MY CHECKERED PAST. PUBLISHED 10/30/2014 "BY DOG EARLIER PUBLISHING"
HANG IN THER TOMMY:JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY POETRY WITH YOU FROM THE WALLS OF SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON I WROTE THAT 29 YEARS AGO IN A CELL IN NORTHBLOCK. MY PRAYERS AND HOPES FOR YOUR RELEASE FROM SOLITARY CONFINEMENT ARE WITH YOU.WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF YOUR RIGHTS TO BE FREED FOM CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.
Richard that was beautiful, I hope all is well I still pray for your son. please email with joyful news soon I am finally going to send this to Tom
take care
Sorry to say this was rejected by the BOP and returned to me. );
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