by Jon D. Goldberg, San Quentin State Prison, CA The first time I told a non-family member I love you was to my first girlfriend that I thought was serious. Young love in the sixth grade. Her name was the Tina Foss. I will never forget her. Now that I am grown I realize I didn’t know love outside my family until I met my ex-wife. It was truly love at first sight. To find love is exhilarating, life changing and awesome. When you feel compelled to say it, it comes easy. When I first said it I was young
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Volume 28.05/06
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 28.05/06
Greetings friends! Welcome to our latest issue, 28.05/06, of The Beat Within. We are thrilled to bring you our latest issue of writing and art from the inside and beyond. This week OT, has plenty to share and with space being a premium, let’s cut to the chase and pass the keyboard to our dear colleague. “Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” -Drake Before I get into my message, I would like to let y’all know that this editorial note is dedicated to the great writers and colleagues inside San Quentin that contribute, write
Continue ReadingHow To Cope
by Adriana, San Mateo I used to think dope was the only thing worth living for, but now I see myself getting out, going to program, and living my best life clean and sober. Becoming and staying sober has been a complete lifestyle change that I will have to continue in order to save my life. Yeah, it may have not been my choice to get clean. On the streets I would have never found the strength to do so, let alone maintain sobriety. Going down and staying down helped me reevaluate my life and rethink some of the lifestyle
Continue ReadingI Used To-But Now…I’m Going to do Better
by Curry, San Francisco I used to be naïve and stubborn when I didn’t listen and respect my elders advice. At the time I just thought they didn’t understand me or what I was going through. Now, with experience and time, I realized that my elders always have good wisdom informed by their years of experience and learning. I’ve also learned to never judge a book by its cover for example, although a person may not seem to have all of their stuff together they might have a way of living and being that is good for them. I know
Continue ReadingWorking Through My Journey
by On The Journey To My True Self, San Diego First are my trust issues. Growing up, my dad promised me something and would never follow through with anything he promised me. Then, when I got a little older, I started dating, and boys really taught me you can’t trust anyone no matter what they say or do. My mother also gave me trust issues, always lying to me all the time. Then, the trust issues really started to grow on me from forming a lot of new bonds and relationships. Soon, I started realizing that I was losing interest
Continue ReadingAware
by KC The Dreaded Poet, California Men’s Colony State Prison, San Luis Obispo, CA I am aware of my place, I put me where they could seeThose that hate me I helped plot on meI was engaged in activities the opposite of preventing clashesBetween the cops and meAin’t no stoppin’ me was the prevailing thoughtUntil my unhealthy desires allowed me to get caughtAn onslaught of valid charges and true accusationsLed to a barrage of guilty verdicts and consecutive terms of incarcerationMy revelation, came when a man with a name I didn’t knowEnded my life with a sentenceLife888 months to serveLife
Continue ReadingOne Year Older, One Year Wiser
by Harry Goodall Jr., San Quentin State Prison, CA I have no idea what TV and movie writers had up their sleeve. It was a lot of movies that came out and validated dying young. I guess it can be said that these movies glamorized this ideology. At the same time, gangsta rap was taking off. It was the battle of the East Coast versus the West Coast rap styles. It was a situation of most urban or ghetto areas visualized the police as enemies. The thought left people feeling it was, “me against the world.” Our ears were filled
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Volume 28.03/04
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 28.03/04
The latest Beat is back in your hands with more insightful writing and art for you amazing supporters, friends, colleagues, partners, writers and artists. This latest issue, 28.03/04, which you are holding will certainly give you plenty of inspiration and insights as you flip from page to page, while reading many of the different entries from around the state and beyond. It’s OT coming to you guys live and direct. This latest editorial note was inspired by one of the writing prompts this week which was the words from the wise quote of the week. “I really get motivated when
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