Born Anew
Created by Chad Langgle
When the very wheels of fate turn—yet never move.
When the cold embrace of the tomb
Isn't felt in the embrace of death?
One day at a time.
Until—
Sights and sounds so new,
And yet, still known.
Everything filled with sensory delight.
And yet cannot see.
The opportunity to be
Who you were meant to be.
A newborn’s first breath.
And yet...
So much like the newborn,
Maybe not newly born,
But still, born anew.
Both needing nurturing care.
One frowned upon,
The other cooed to.
The new and the lost.
And so worth the cost—
To feel how I feel,
And see through these eyes.
Jessup Correctional Institution - Maryland
Chad’s writing carries the rawness of lived experience and the sincerity of someone trying to become more than his past. He writes about mental health, fear, faith, identity, and the longing to be seen beneath the inked-over armor of who he once had to be. His words reflect the way he is trying to rebuild himself piece by piece—no longer through violence or reputation, but through honesty, reflection, and the search for connection.
He believes the greatest offering he has is his story. He writes in the hope that his life can be understood, that someone might see beyond what the world has marked on him, and that his journey might help someone else who feels alone in their struggle. His work stands as a testament to a man trying to change from the inside out—one sentence at a time.