Writing poetry and song lyrics is a passion for Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Northward inmate Donald Hooker, who turns to the arts to assist with his rehabilitation.

“My life has been a lot of lessons learned,” said Mr Hooker. “Instead of getting angry I channel my anger in a different direction, so I can get more positive outputs.”

Mr Hooker – whose motto is “what you say is what you become” – has spent his time at Northward writing poetry about love, the gospel, and his life experiences. Included among these are poems he has written, by request, for funerals; he also is working towards publishing his collection of more than 180 poems.

“The most inspiring ones were written here at Northward. My goal is to get my message out to Cayman’s youth, who can look at my mistakes and learn how to avoid them,” he said.

HMP Northward’s Education Coordinator Natalie Joseph-Caesar is working on getting Mr Hooker’s book of poems edited and published.

“Mr Hooker has made a lot of changes during this time at Northward,” she said. “He uses poetry as part of his rehabilitation, and has used his time thus far to accomplish his goals in a positive way.”

Mr Hooker is housed in Northward’s enhanced unit, which allows inmates more flexibility. He is also the prison barber. He said he is continually striving for betterment, and constantly seeking to “do different things to get different results” at Northward and in his future.