Cobb inmates enjoy wonders of verse through poetry classes

MARIETTA - It&#39;s an unusual place for similes, metaphors and imagination, but the inmates at the Cobb County Prison Unit spent their summer in a class that taught them how to write and appreciate poetry. <br> <br> Some sent poems to friends on the outside; others wrote verse as a way of dealing with the harshness of prison life. <br> <br> Claire Kiefer, a Tulane University senior, came up with the idea of matching poetry and prisoners as part of her ambition to teach creative writing in a ``setting that incorporates social justice.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The 21-year-old published poet says she was surprised to find the inmates were ``delightfully receptive.&#39;&#39; Her class grew to 22 students before officials capped the poetry circle at 12. <br> <br> The prison unit has about 200 inmates, most serving sentences ranging from six to 12 months for nonviolent misdemeanor offenses. Most of them work for the county doing custodial and maintenance tasks. <br> <br> Besides poetry, the inmates can also take computer literacy courses, English as a second language and participate in drama and musical productions.