Most Wanted

Abstract

Most Wanted Quayshaun Bailey (bio) Most Wanted As I come out with my hands upMy past comes to me in flashes.If anyone asks it,All I can say is it was good while it lasted. Evading my capture,Fleeing—eluding, avoiding crashes.But now it's all past tense,Dust-to-dust; ashes-to-ashes. Part of me hates it when this happens,Cuz last time didn't end well.That shit knocked the wind out of meAnd it took me awhile to inhale. Cuz I fought so hard for it,So when I noticed that it failedIt forced me to runAnd I ended up breaking the bond and skipped bail. But "its well" is what's saidIn another part of my brain.Like "these are different times andCircumstances, it's hardly the same." Cuz this time its not a set-upFor some heartache or pain.It's a chance for new opportunities,A fresh start, and some change. It's just strangeGoing through all this again, my brain is buzzin'.My eyes are wideAnd it's a funny feeling inside my stomach. But in a way I am relievedCuz I always knew that my time was coming. [End Page 237] And it's 'bout time you brung it,Cuz deep down I'm tired of running. And I don't want to duck, hide, or nothing,But please trust me;I've still got memoriesOf how the last situation crushed me. Cut me, scarred me, bruised meAnd even scuffed me.So "don't handle me roughly"Is all that I say as I let you cuff me. It must be something wrong with meIs yelled from everyone that's close.Saying if they were me,They would've ran off as soon as you approached. And I used to be just like them,Preferring to see my face on a most wanted post.But now I see that all alongThis is what I wanted most. [End Page 238] Quayshaun Bailey Quayshaun Bailey is a poet and author from Preoria, IL. He currently resides at Stateville Correctional Center and is enrolled in the Northwestern Prison Education Program with Northwestern University. He was first introduced to poetry by his mother as a kid and credits her for his interest in creative writing. He is presently working on a book compiling some of his works. Copyright © 2020 Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University