We welcome back you readers to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. We are the only magazine putting out a double issue every other week. It’s the only magazine where you’re allowed to tell your stories, your truths in a safe space. It’s OT back again tasked with bringing you some words of inspiration and wisdom. As always there were a lot of great topics, but I’ll go with the one that puts a smile to my face, and that’s the topic on smile. There’s a lot of reasons to smile in life and
Continue ReadingMonth: August 2026
My Mother
-Mighty Mouse, Marin There are many words out there to describe my best friend. Actually, there isn’t enough words to describe my best friend. My best friend is smart, sweet, caring, loving, beautiful, and so much more. I could tell that person everything and anything. I’ve known my best friend for seventeen years. I love going on hikes or to zoos or amusement parks with her. As long as I’m with my best friend, I’m happy. I hope to have my best friend for the rest of my life. My best friend is my mother. Take advantage of your mom
Continue ReadingSee Me For Who I Am
-Phillip, San Quentin State Prison I find it funny in a way, when I think about who takes care of me all these years in prison, which is going on fourteen years now. So, there was a time when I first came to prison, I had this expectation that my people in the free world were going to put money on my books and send me packages. At the same time, I wasn’t doing anything for myself. As you can imagine I became a burden to my family, and the money and packages dried up fast. I had to figure
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Volume 31.15/16
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 31.15/16
We welcome back you readers to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. We are the only magazine putting out a double issue every other week. It’s the only magazine where you’re allowed to tell your stories, your truths in a safe space. It’s OT back again tasked with bringing you some words of inspiration and wisdom. There were some really great topics this week and it was really tough having to pick just one, but I think I will go with the one that moves me the most. “There are two kinds of worries
Continue ReadingWanting Change
-Zayy Sleeze, San Mateo “There are two kinds of worries: those you can do something about and those you can’t.” Duke Ellington I’m a big over thinker. I often catch myself worried about things I cannot control or change. I do this because I want things to go as planned. Yet, everything always goes wrong for me. I want my life to be better, but I’m always stuck in the middle of something. I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. I want to change, but I just can’t. I want to give my son a
Continue ReadingDeeply Saddened
-Tariq, Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA Dedicated To Dave InocencioOut of the loop in 2025Back in the loop in 2026I heard Dave Inocencio is no longer aliveThinking to myself, “What the hell did I miss?”Moving from one prison building to anotherI found an old letter from DaveThinking to myself I’ll write to my brotherNot knowing he was in his graveDeeply saddenedI read my newly published poems in The BeatHappy for being published but bittersweetAnother new issue, delivered to meI saw behind Dave’s name, RIPWhich made me sadDeeply saddenedIt’s dedicated to Dave InocencioIt was 2010, when you gave me
Continue ReadingA Smile Is Infectious
-Sugar Bear, San Quentin State Prison Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. I focus on positivity. We all make mistakes, and I am no one to judge anyone. I want to say what Rodney King says, “Can we all just get along!” Let’s change negative thoughts with God’s thoughts. Inspire, love, pray and lift someone. you don’t know what they can be going through. A smile is infectious.
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