...But I find it somewhat difficult to simplify who I am and what I stand for in a few simple paragraphs. I am an amalgamation of styles and tastes, a renaissance man for a new nation. I am all things, and yet I am nothing. My name is Daniel Jackson, but even that is a label that barely fits, for within me lies many personalities, clashing one with another. I am a walking contradiction.
I am Daniel Jackson, but I am also The Jack Dee Conspiracy. Man, Beast, Machine...The Eternal, the Fearsome and the Infernal...this makes little sense to you, dear reader, at this point. I'll try to explain...I call it, "The Saga of the Concrete Jungle", my war within. It is my ongoing battle with my dark sides and the inspirational fires of much that I write. While they are individual personalities, separate and distinct, they are all a part of me, the Conspiracy within.
Ah, but how mad I must sound. I assure you that I am not, or perhaps I am, just not in the way many of you are thinking...
I am a criminal, or I was anyway. Now I am a convict currently incarcerated in the Virginia Department of Corrections, where I have spent the past 12 years , so you will excuse me if my blog is ever dated. My Internet knowledge is limited to the late 1990's, as are my cultural experiences. It is not I posting my words, but my sister who lends her fingers and time to this and future ramblings I spill upon paper. Perhaps cyberspace returning to me a voice taken by the state.
Be assured that in that statement I am not trying to shuck the burden of blame from my shoulders for past actions. In no way did the state that denies me freedom, cause me to lose that freedom. I accept full responsibility for my own actions and realize the gravity of what I have done. If any faults lie with the Virginia Penal System, they lie in its daily operations, not in the circumstances that brought me here, but that is something for another time.
I will close this out by thanking my sisters for encouraging me to write this blog and for the help they are providing. Truly I was in need of a way to speak to the world. There are millions of images filling my head. Words drip from my every pore, prophecies running like hot candle wax. My mind echoes the sounds of either the most beautiful or the most frightening music I have ever heard. The imaginary takes on a life of its own and bleeds into my realities...
Again, I make myself out to be a madman and again I say that perhaps I am. The soul of the artist is rooted in psychosis and watered by insanity. It's a mad world. People are crazy. We all have our quirks, some of us just learn to bend that madness to our will and in doing so, become artists.
So here I am. An artist. A madman. A convict. A poet. A prophet...Ready to bear my soul to the spiders out there surfing or searching for a little water.
Due to my circumstances, my postings and responses to questions or comments will take a little longer than normal, as all must go through my sister for web material. Direct correspondences can be made to me at:
Daniel Jackson #1182398
Powhatan Correctional Center
State Farm, VA 23160
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I'm so glad you took our advice and started this blog. That was a great first entry. love you
ReplyDeleteI hope that this will be a positive creative outlet for you and a help in some way to those who read this.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to meet you Daniel Jackson. Thank you for that introduction. I too, hope that this opportunity will be a postive one for you and I am interested to read and follow along. I understand the limitations and look forward to future posts.
ReplyDeleteGood day, Daniel. May this blog be a positive outlet for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the comments! I will be sure to pass them along to my brother. He will be so thankful for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteDANIEL ~
ReplyDeleteA couple of things you wrote reminded me of some song lyrics:
”It is my ongoing battle with my dark sides”
If this is heaven, then I'm in hell
If trust is misfortune, then wish me well
…
Because it's Beggar's Day
…
I've lost control of my darker side
--> Nils Lofgren; “Beggar’s Day”
”It's a mad world. People are crazy. We all have our quirks”
We do crazy things when we're wounded
Everyone's a bit insane
--> Tom Waits; “Please call me, Baby”
An interesting opening Blog Bit, Brother.
~ Stephen
"As a dog returns to his own vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly."
~ Proverbs 26:11
hi Daniel,
ReplyDeleteyou certainly possess God given talents with an ability to express yourself. whatever you do...never stop writing!
Hi Daniel,
ReplyDeleteYour father directed me to your blog. You definitely have great skill in writing. Your introduction was quite intriguing. Blogging has helped me find my voice and I pray that it does the same for you.
A writer should have a way to be heard. I hope you use your 'voice' wisely and share your message.
ReplyDeleteHi Daniel,
ReplyDeleteand what a great voice you have. Please continue your strides to be heard, we are listening.
This is a really wonderful thing. I just wrote a post yesterday about how I'd like to find a way to inneract with people in prison that have changed or want to change. I hope that this is the release that Daniel needs and I look forward to hearing more from him.
ReplyDeleteWow. I have to say that I'm shocked. I did not expect this. But I will also say that I will follow you. Looking forward to whatever posts are coming.
ReplyDelete-Wolfie
To echo Arlee's words, I hope blogging will be a creative outlet for you. I visited your sister's blog. She's a very special person to have in your life who supports and loves you.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
It's so interesting to me to read this. I talk about being insane fairly frequently, but I understand how, being in prison, you need to qualify it, where for me it is something I 'embrace' when I am feeling silly--it is the letting loose side of me. I guess that is just an observation about how binding labels are--how fearful the label 'convict' can make a term the rest of us take for granted as 'just fun'.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great you've taken this on, and I wish you luck with the endeavor--I hope it gives you some sense of connection with the writing community--people who share one of your passions.
RESPONSE TO WANDA FROM DANIEL JACKSON:
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming to the site. My Dad has been very supportive of the blog adn has worked to direct other to the site. I appreciate his dedication and the encouraging words others have offered.
I will say that I'm not sure blogging has helped me find a voice, as I have always been outspoken and creative. Writing has been a part of my life for a long time. I anything it has given me an "ear" to listen to my voice. Something I have needed to "unburden" my creative mind. I wrote a poem that is going to posted soon where I said "a fallen tree, all along/ Doesn't make a sound" and this is how I feel about my writings. If I continued to fill a book no one ever read, I would accomplish nothing.
Thank you for listening and may I continue to intrigue, captivate and inspire.
Direct correspondences can be made to me at:
Daniel Jackson #1182398
Powhatan Correctional Center
State Farm, VA 23160