[sionnsar]

Lives are changed sometimes.

It can be a little daunting, the first time, to walk in through the gates and hear them close behind you -- but it's a small thing compared to seeing a life changed.

[AnAmericanMother]

I worked on the Cuban Marielitos cases down at the Atlanta Pen . . . you're right about those gates.

As the iron gates clanged behind him,
He heard the warden say,
"It's ten long years for you, poor boy,
Ten long years in prison this day.
It's ten long years for you poor boy,
It's ten long years this day,"
As the iron gates clanged behind him,
He heard the warden say.

That's from an old ballad called "Coon Can" that I've sung for years. Didn't really appreciate it until I heard those huge steel gates at the Pen come together. And they DO clang.