PRISONER

Someone told me about it
When I was still a little boy.
He said to me, crime does not pay
He said to me, education is the key
As a little boy I thought I knew what I was doing.
But today here I am in jail.
I looked all around me
But to see nothing
But four grey walls staring at me
The policeman said to me,
They won't build no schools anymore
All they'll build will be prison.
I asked the police and said,
How much must I pay for freedom?
He said to me,
They won't build no schools anymore
They won't build no hospital anymore
All they'll build will be prison
There I know I'm a prisoner.

The picture: School for juvenile prisoners in Istanbul prison. On the board (Mekteb bir darüledebdir. School is a house of discipline/training.). Polis Mecmuası, v. 85, 28 Jan. 1917.