About the author (from original document)
Nicknamed Popeye at an early age.
My name is Jeffrey Gardner.
I grew up in poverty in SE Portland,
foster homes, mental hospitals, jails,
and the streets. I'm a multiple felon
and I don't claim to be innocent.
This compilation of poems is my work
during my first year of recovery from drug addiction.
my rebirth.
The Multnomah County Jail is a tall tower called the Justice Center. By this time, I am in a reading frenzy. Ann Rice's vampire books bring me understanding of my conflicted self. Meth addiction is very close to bloodsucking. The Chaplin brings me poetry, xeroxed, mostly religious stuff. One is by an anonymous author, it was my favorite. I started thinking about contributing without being known. The idea that my best work could be out there, being read, and somehow not be attributed to me, astounded me. I wrote this in that thought.
The Multnomah County Jail is a tall tower called the Justice Center. By this time, I am in a reading frenzy. Ann Rice's vampire books bring me understanding of my conflicted self. Meth addiction is very close to bloodsucking. The Chaplin brings me poetry, xeroxed, mostly religious stuff. One is by an anonymous author, it was my favorite. I started thinking about contributing without being known. The idea that my best work could be out there, being read, and somehow not be attributed to me, astounded me. I wrote this in that thought.
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