ISSUE No. 2 cover
BLUE INK. The intelligence of the octopus, with its all-seeing tentacles, exploring the world outside of its confinement. When he finally releases, how does he make his way in the world?
The folks at OSP bring myriad talents to the PonyXpress journal. We benefit tremendously from Austin Clark’s artistry (and humor) on our editorial board. Every week, he brings his guitar to our meetings, and plays for us while we get settled in the space. Incarcerated since age 16, Austin pulls depth and tone from a ball point pen equally to the sound he draws from his prison-issue guitar. Self-taught, disciplined, kind, and modest. Austin saw the parole board three weeks ago — 10 years early. At 33 years, he longs to walk through those gates...and at the same time he has absorbed the weight of his actions and the resonate trauma it inflicts. We learned this week that he will remain inside for another 2 years. A disappointment and for Austin, the internal conversation persists: What more shall I learn and accomplish inside? How can I be a better man?