About this ebook
"The Ties that Bind Us" is a book of poetry mixed with free verse. The poems are written from the raw feelings Nanon Williams experienced while living in solitary confinement on Texas death row. Confined to a “black out cell,” Williams spent three years in total darkness with nothing but his memories and emotions to bring him solace. All of these poems describe the feelings that weighed heavy on his heart, mind and soul as he struggled to come to terms with the bleakness and despair of life in isolation. Written from a place few can imagine and even fewer will ever experience, the emotions expressed are innate to the human experience—a desire for love and human connection. Through his poetry, Williams demonstrates that there is a love that exists within us all. This love is in everything and everyone. If we choose to ignore it, the pain of separating from it remains a constant reminder of what we are missing. In the darkest, most removed prison cell in Texas’ Ellis Unit, Williams reconnected with this love. This book is that expression.
"The Ties that Bind Us" is a book of poetry mixed with free verse. The poems are written from the raw feelings Nanon Williams experienced while living in solitary confinement on Texas death row. Confined to a “black out cell,” Williams spent three years in total darkness with nothing but his memo...
About the author
Nanon McKewn Williams, born August 2, 1974, grew up in Los Angeles amidst the violence and poverty that plagued the city. As a teenager, Nanon stood out for his academic and sporting achievements and dreamt of a career as a football player. He was an All-American and the recipient of over seventeen athletic and academic scholarships. In 1992, when Nanon was only seventeen years old, he was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to death by the state of Texas. As a young boy on death row, Nanon discovered a passion for writing and committed his life to being a voice for those who have been silenced. He began with poems, which he published in 2000 under the title The Ties That Bind Us, and continued on to write numerous essays as well as several books, providing a poignant look at life on death row. As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Roper vs. Simmons, Nanon’s death sentence was converted to a life sentence in 2005. With his transition to general population, Nanon was able to study for and complete his GED in 2007. He then began college courses offered through Trinity Valley Community College. He earned an associates degree in Liberal Arts and Science and also took trade courses in Horticulture and Cognitive Intervention. He is currently working towards his Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences through University of Houston-Clear Lake. Upon completion of his Bachelor degree, Nanon will begin working towards his Masters in Literature. Through writing, Nanon has found a way in which to endure daily life in prison, connect with and enrich the world beyond prison walls. Nanon’s message is a message of peace and nonviolence. He actively works to bring attention to the atrocities that routinely occur behind bars and seeks to be a voice for those who have been silenced while offering a platform of education for those who may learn compassion and kindness for a population of people who are all too easy to shun and turn our backs on.
Nanon McKewn Williams, born August 2, 1974, grew up in Los Angeles amidst the violence and poverty that plagued the city. As a teenager, Nanon stood out for his academic and sporting achievements and dreamt of a career as a football player. He was an All-American and the recipient of over sevente...
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