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Continue ReadingMonth: February 2017
No One Said Life was Fair
by Gigg’s No one said life was fair. I don’t agree with life’s experiences some people and I have shared… Who knew she wouldn’t believe me when I told her he rubbed on me. Streaks from the streams of my eyes, and she tellin’ me, “there ain’t no reason for them fears…” Later on, taking life in my own hands and it’s for his life he came to fear… Who knew he’d step up and start beating me when dude walked away and left his seeds. I would cringe for no reason, not knowing him and him would be the reasons
Continue ReadingI Wonder Why
by Wisdom I wonder why life is so complicated. There are so many decisions to make, so many things to experience, so many feelings to feel. Sometimes I wonder if this is all a dream and if one day I’m gonna wake up to nd myself in another realm. I meditate. Meditating is my way of escaping this strange world. If you are like me, always wondering why, and you need a way to cope, simply focus on your breath. Close your eyes and count with every inhale and exhale. And if your mind wanders off somewhere else, start over. Inhale
Continue ReadingVOLUME 22.05/06
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingThe World Around Me In Color
by Keith Erickson Not long ago I remember a day sitting in my California prison cell doing what I’d done so many countless other times through the electric fence and razored wire staring out my window. My freedom, something I hadn’t had in nearly thirty years, was left standing there in the forest just outside the Prison’s perimeter. I couldn’t reach out to clutch it in my bare hands if even my life depended on it – I was, and continue to be, serving the rest of my life in this man-built hell. They say that it’s a center for
Continue ReadingWe Aren’t Born Woke, Something Wakes Us
by Jaida My eyes have been closed for fourteen-years. I am now fteen-years old and trying to get my life together after waking up one day and feeling the heaviest regret ll my heart. This regret came to me like a ashback. I looked in my mom’s tearful eyes, thought about the innocent people I took from and hurt. I thought about how my persona now is affecting my younger brothers perspective of my life and me. And now how every morning I have to wake up at the crack of dawn to pay the price of everything I put myself
Continue ReadingForgiveness Is for Me / JJIE / The Beat Within
Greetings all! As January comes to a close, our partners and friends over at the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) based in Kennesaw, GA, have picked up and posted a wonderful piece from the talented Mathew Edwards, who for the last couple years has been a wonderful contributor in The Beat Within writing workshops inside San Quentin State Prison. We must say, Mathew consistently writes stellar pieces about his journey and hunger for another date with freedom. Forgiveness Is for Me http://jjie.org/2017/01/30/forgiveness-is-for-me/ Back in June 2016, the JJIE featured his piece, In for Life After a Life of Abuse http://jjie.org/2016/06/27/in-for-life-after-a-life-of-abuse/ February, 2016, JJIE picked up his
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