Category: The Beat Without

by Truth N Poetry, San Quentin, CA “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”-Pablo Picasso My gift is using words, poetic expressions which uplifts, heals and informs and if need be create a fire. Most of us have been cautioned since our youth that “words have power,” and if you are not going to say anything nice be quiet.  I choose to use my gift of words to heal and help, rather than hurt others. See owning our power is in every decision. Yes, we all have the power

by Efren Bullard, Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, CA Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt like time was slipping away? For almost three decades I have felt like I missed so much of life that for the first time in my life I thought, why not tell you guys what I’ve been thinking and feeling.  I grew up spending most of my life in Juvenile Camps, California Youth Authority, and Prison. Never really experiencing much of anything. I haven’t really had a meal with my family sitting at a table in my life. We

by Antoine Williams, Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, CA Throughout the course of my 37 years of living I would say half of that time was spent seeking things that I thought were important. When I was a teenager I believed that having a lot of girlfriends, money and street cred were the goals to strive for. Without question, if it was not about these things it did not matter to me. So from the age of 13 to 15 years old I was in the streets with no regard to how my actions would impact me, my family, or

by William Curl, CSATF/ State Prison Corcoran, in Corcoran, CA Hey how’s the people. Been a minute since I wrote. I got two classes for summer college semester. Sociology and History. A lot of reading and writing to add to the schedule.  The other day I was chilling with the fellas going over options in search of ways to motivate the stalled Life Without Parole(LWOP) legislation. The discussion quickly got heavy about how horrible judges were interpreting-enforcing laws that benefit us. One guy went on a really educated dissertation about how the Eight Amendment to the Constitution guarantees us “equal

by Osbun Walton,  San Quentin State Prison, CA December 1st, 2020, Coronavirus “COVID-19” pandemic has the whole world in its deadly claws. I thank God I’m a survivor, but I am still experiencing some of its effects like memory loss. San Quentin State Prison is on modified program, which consists of controlled movements where various workers and those being escorted to the clinic, education, board hearings, canteen etc. have to be escorted by prison guards or their assigned bosses. However, it didn’t stop my typical early morning wakeup at 4am.  Although my PIA job is shut down, I still rise

by Efren Bullard, Ironwood State Prison, Blythe, CA It’s been a while since I last sent you (The Beat) something worth reading. For the past few months I’ve been working very hard on this Commutation of Sentence. I’m trying to get the Governor of California to reduce my sentence from Life Without Parole to Life With Parole so that I can have the opportunity to go to Board for release one day.  I just finished it and mailed it to my brother so he can send it into the Governor’s office. Now, I want to move forward and let you

by Keith Erickson, Pleasant Valley State Prison, Coalinga, CA The world never looked so beautiful than it does for me today. Having spent almost forty years of my life incarcerated my perception of things around me weren’t always so glamourous. I decided to write this piece on one of my special talents, being an artist. There is more to my being skilled at this craft than simply being able to sit down and do it freely. As a kid growing up, I was fascinated by street art, graffiti and tagging. Watching the 1980’s movies like “Beat Street,” “Breaking,” and “Breaking

by Mesro Coles-El, San Quentin State Prison, CA I am brokenFor yearsI was openTo abuse fromPeople needingEgo-strokingThat berated myNeed to be outspokenInstead of supportThose who told meThey loved meFiled reportsThat lied to meWhen theySold meMeanwhileWhen I was in courtWhere I boldlyTried to get homeI wasOut of sortsAngry and lonelySomedaysI stare atMy shardsGathering dustThe floor isSo hard!In too many waysI’m scarredSo much soIt feels likeHappy daysJust aren’tIn the cardsFor sportSlave holdersCarve toFold meInto my kennelI’m a soldierThrough hunger painsMade bolderBy my soft touchThat got meBoiling in life’s kettleWith no oneTo hold meThen I get mailFrom peopleI love and trustAnd mix theirGolden

by William Curl, Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran, CA Hey, how’s the people? I realized not too long ago y’all be writing to prompts. I’ve gotten a few in the magazines but I always go on my own lil’ tangent. The other day I received some words from David and he included some prompts wit “HOPE” being a potential subject. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk about that! After existing so long without it I have a spiritual appreciation for it. HOPE is a real deep word. It’s synonymous with love in way of trying to articulate what

by Richie Angulo, Avenal State Prison in Avenal, CA A few months ago my friend Mark recommended the book, “Healing The Shame That Binds You,” by John Bradshaw. It’s rare that a self-help book catches my attention, however this book turned my life upside down (in a good way). Reading this book allowed me to connect some dots from my past that I desperately needed. Author Bradshaw distinguishes between healthy shame as an emotion versus toxic shame that can become an identity. Unfortunately, I allowed toxic shame to consume my life and strip me of the man I was supposed