by William Curl, Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran, CA Hey what’s up with the people?! Hope my last installment left y’all inspired, enlightened, and a little closer to establishing inner peace. Life’s been the way it’s always been for me here waiting on some change to happen. I mean I’ve accomplished the internal insight that’s helped me get familiar with myself, but as we all know, the true test is in our response to external forces constantly testing who we say we are-are not. This level two is an ugly testing ground that managed to fine tune my character beautifully.
Continue ReadingYear: 2021
Stop
by Angel Hurtado, Solano County Jail in Fairfield, CA I can’t stop, nothing has shown me some kind of directionAgain I sit here hating myself with overwhelming disappointmentI can’t stop, why is that?Chasing the satisfaction of deathNow that’s just factsI can’t stop, blaming others for all my pain and sufferingsBut realizing that I’m the one sweeping my feet right from under meI can’t stopLiving my life on the edge like I’m senselessNow look at me stuck in a cell looking at a life sentenceI can’t stopJust for a second to think on what I can do betterBut just putting my
Continue Reading
25th Anniversary Event
Reading & Conversation Please Zoom with us in celebration ofThe Beat Within’s 25th Anniversary! Sunday, November 21 at 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Through storytelling and conversation former Beat Within writers share the inspiring power and strength they have found through writing. Please RSVP to the Zoom link for the event here
Continue Reading
Volume 26.41/42
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 26.41/42
We would like to welcome you readers back to another double dose edition, 26.41/42, of the one and only The Beat Within. This is the only magazine keeping it real for you readers one thousand percent for 25 years! This week we pass the mic or should we say keyboard to our dearest colleague, OT. Most of you know OT by now, if it’s through this editorial note, or for the few of you who have met him over Zoom in our workshops. Regardless, he is great person with plenty of heart and we think his following message will truly
Continue ReadingA New Perspective
by TY, San Diego, CA Everything we are doing is going to have a monumental effect down the road, so you have to move smarter. Start thinking ahead instead of in the moment. This life is chess, not checkers. It’s a waiting game so you have to act accordingly. Just remember that it’s the people who think before they move that make it farther. When you’re sitting in your cell, or when you’re all alone, do some deep thinking about everything you’ve done in life up until now. Then, decide if you’re comfortable with where you’re at in life. If
Continue ReadingDetermined
by Stitch, San Mateo I had court a couple of days ago on Tuesday. They still want my case to be transferred to adult court but my lawyer says there is a good chance that won’t happen, though I still have to wait another couple of months to see what will happen. I am determined to get my freedom back, I know it will take some time. I can do time, though I just have to be patient and stay busy. I really won’t take my freedom for granted ever again. I’ve been down damn near six months and to
Continue ReadingMy Birthday Week
by Mando, San Mateo It’s been a nice week because I got more letters from my family and they sent me some birthday cards. I was reading them and wanted to cry, but I didn’t. My mom told me my PO is goin’ to retire in a week so she goin’ to do my report on this court date and be done after that. I don’t want a new PO, I been with this PO since I was a little kid and I feel like this new PO is just goinn’ to think I’m a bad kid based on my
Continue ReadingCrying To Relieve The Pain
by DJ, Sacramento The last time I cried was two nights ago. I cried because I think of my loved ones a lot and my dad a lot. It would be if my dad was still here, I wonder where I would be. It makes me think would things be different. Would I have had to learn lessons by going through it to see how the outcome is? Would I still feel alone even though I have a lot of people in my corner? People that’s here for me. I also cry because I feel I failed as a son
Continue ReadingDream House
by Jorge, San Francisco The way my dream house would be described is as a big house in the middle of nowhere where I could only be with my family and my current girlfriend. My house would have ten bedrooms. One bedroom would be for me and my girl, another for my Mom, one for my sister and her baby daddy and son. The fourth would be for my Dad. The fifth would be for my baby sister, who would have the best room beside my mom’s. The other five rooms would be for my guests. Each room would have
Continue Reading