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April: National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) - 30 Poems in 30 Days by J. S. Russell is a powerful and deeply reflective poetry collection born from a creative challenge inside prison walls. Written during National Poetry Writing Month through prompts provided by PEN America's Prison and Justice Writing Program, the book captures thirty days of poetic exploration, imagination, and personal truth.
While incarcerated, Russell accepted the challenge to write a poem every day in April. The result is a diverse and emotionally layered body of work that stretches far beyond the confines of prison life. Guided by prompts that encouraged experimentation with form, voice, and subject matter, Russell crafts poems that move fluidly between introspection, social commentary, memory, humor, spirituality, and hope.
Throughout the collection, readers encounter poems that wrestle with difficult realities-violence, regret, systemic injustice, addiction, and the weight of past decisions-while also revealing the author's relentless pursuit of growth, freedom, and understanding. In pieces such as Reaping the Whirlwind, Russell confronts the consequences of a tragic moment that altered his life forever. In poems like Dreaming Gold and Never Ask Yourself, he explores faith, purpose, and the belief that dreams can transcend circumstances. Meanwhile, poems such as Origin Story and The Good, The Bad, The Wonderful trace the personal and cultural influences that shaped his identity.
Yet the collection is not confined to reflection alone. Russell's poetic voice also celebrates imagination, curiosity, and beauty. Poems about birds, flowers, aquariums, springtime, and dreams offer moments of vivid imagery and sensory exploration, reminding readers that creativity can flourish even in the most restrictive environments.
What makes this book especially compelling is its authenticity. Russell writes with unfiltered honesty, balancing vulnerability with strength as he examines race, masculinity, fatherhood, love, and transformation. His words reveal a mind determined to evolve and a spirit committed to turning adversity into purpose.
April: National Poetry Writing Month is more than a poetry collection-it is a testament to the liberating power of writing. Through discipline, reflection, and imagination, J. S. Russell demonstrates that even in confinement, the mind can expand, the voice can grow stronger, and freedom can be written into existence.
