The Imprisoned Voice

Would you bother to read this poem today
if no pen or paper
could move or stay
with stanzas to display
the world as it turns and sways?

—George Mesro Coles-El, 2023

In collaboration with Pollen Inititative, Clio's is honored to present The Imprisoned Voice, a recurring series of Friday-night conversations with poets, fiction and creative non-fiction writers, scholars, and philosophers who produce their work exclusively from within American prisons. All conversations will occur live and in real time via phone.

The series will commence on Friday, June 12th with the poet George Mesro Coles-El, whose work addresses the role that art plays in the relationships we have with ourselves, with others, and with our shared socio-cultural inheritance. This is a ticketed event, all proceeds from which will go toward supporting the sustainability and expansion of community engagement programs that support currently incarcerated writers and scholars.

George Edward Coles-El, known as Mesro Dhu Rafa’a or “Mesro the Human Sun,” is a poet, author, educator, emcee, graffiti artist, and member of the San Quentin SkunkWorks Art Team and Leadership Council. Through his work in transformative gaming, visual art, and storytelling, Mesro explores how creativity can challenge isolation, build community, and inspire personal growth inside prison. Having transformed his life from homelessness and criminal activity toward education and advocacy, he uses art and cooperative gaming as tools for healing, inclusivity, and social change. His work reflects a deep commitment to redefining possibility through imagination, dialogue, and human connection.

Pollen Initiative is committed to amplifying the voices, experiences, and perspectives of incarcerated people through journalism, multimedia training, and creative expression that engages the mind and strengthens community. They believe access to information, creativity, and civic participation are essential to human dignity and rehabilitation. Through ethical journalism and transformative media practices, Pollen Initiative helps individuals develop professional skills, critical thinking, and purpose while fostering greater understanding between incarcerated communities and the public. Their work is rooted in the belief that journalism, observational and reported, has the power to humanize, contextualize, and inspire change.