~If I had known how painful it would be to sit and write this book about my life, I doubt that I would have ever picked up my pen filler, the only writing instrument allowed to an inmate in solitary confinement on death row.~

~There is nothing wrong with losing, but men don't cry! If either of you cries, not only will you lose your bunk, you will eat, sleep, and walk on your knees! 'Cause real men don't cry.~

~The longer I kept up this schedule, the more I noticed an eerie feeling growing, like not having my own shadow.~

~For many years I stared out at what I thought was freedom through a mesh screen and a crack in an old broken window. I would not find myself–and inner freedom–for many more.~

~"That fuckin' bird ain't worth all this Why you trippin', Jarvis?"
"Why?" I asked. "Man, you ask me why? 'Cause, man," I blurted out, "that bird has my wings, that's why!"~