-Margucci, San Francisco I speak truth when I speakAll my life I held it inIt’s time to let it freeI’m not gonna lie, I’m a tweakerPlease just let me beDon’t like situation ultimatumsLike either you or meBecause if it go down, I’m goin upI’m choosin meMan, I think I love this girlProlly found my peaceI’m on to bigger, better thingsHear it in my speechI’m workin hard, I got scarsDreams within my reachI want to wake up and see wavesHouse up on the beachIf you tryna hear the truthThen you should speak to me.
Continue ReadingHard Situation
-Lul B, San Mateo One day I was laying down on the couch when I heard a woman scream. I wanted to help, so I got up. Then I heard a loud noise outside of my house. I opened the door, and I saw two people arguing. I wasn’t surprised because it’s a pretty normal thing in my neighborhood. A man was yelling at a pregnant woman and the woman seemed to be crying. It reminded me of the old days between my mom and my dad and I got angry. Then I saw the man push the female away,
Continue ReadingI Like to Comfort Them
-JJ, Albuquerque Kindness to me is being thoughtful and doing nice things. Things like throwing your neighborhood’s trash, or walking an old person’s dog. What I like to do is tell people they’re okay when they are having a bad time in their life. Like here in juvenile hall, kids come in and cry because they want to go home. I tell them they will be okay and will be home soon and not to worry. Knowing I won’t be home for twenty-plus years, I like to comfort kids who will be home in a few weeks or a couple
Continue ReadingHeart Takes Up Space
-K Beats, Santa Cruz County, CA Home…a place made up of thousands of laughters and tragic thingsA place and or someone that attracts your heart to the inevitableHome is where the love is but to me, it’s where I got broken the mostHeartaches and snakesSurrounded by fakesWhat’s it gonna take to finally rest?Heads felt cement, blacked outAlmost blew my back outThese are my words of a jitTrust me I know what it’s like to get hitFeelin’ sick to my head all the way down to my bonesJust wanna be aloneHard to put my pain into wordsEven though my heart’s broken
Continue ReadingMy Peace
-Truth N poetry, San Quentin, CA My peace is not up for grabsIt is my compass within the stormCalm in the midst of a riotHarmony the color of fresh cornTo not battle chaos,Complicated or unclear or simpleTo sit within one’s soulRemembering the body is a temple.
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Volume 30.07/08
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 30.07/08
Hello and welcome to our Beat Within community across the country and beyond! It’s a pleasure to have you with us for this latest issue, where incarcerated youth and adults share their perspectives, dreams, and important messages for the world at the large. We have our good friend and colleague OT with us for our editorial note, who writes in depth about one of our weekly topics, “My Kind of Weather.” It was such a pleasure getting to know the types of weather that our writers identify with, as it signifies our deeper personality traits and the way we relate
Continue ReadingWhat We Deserve
-Professor Fatback, Santa Cruz I feel like things that all humans deserve are free health care and clothes. Yes, I understand that people gotta work for that stuff, but to be honest, those two things should be free and even food. Another thing I think people deserve is the truth, no matter what and even if it’s gonna hurt someone or help them. Everyone deserves to know the truth. I also feel that everyone deserves to be loved, genuinely loved by someone. Not fake love where they say I love you here and there. I’m talking about someone you can
Continue ReadingGot Me Back on My Feet
-YM, Albuquerque I had a few teachers in my life. My first teachers were my mom and dad. They always showed me right from wrong, and how to treat the people you love or respect. They also taught me how to love. I appreciate them a lot for that. My other teachers have been my big brothers. My first big brother is my blood. We have the same mom. I’m not gonna say his name because he wouldn’t want me to, but he taught me how to be a man, he and my dad did. He taught me to stand
Continue ReadingWhat We Deserve
-Gabriel, Santa Cruz I deserve to be home with my family. So far, I’ve been trying my absolute best, but I keep finding myself in situations. I just wanna move on with life and move on with probation. I’m sad to see myself back here. I was doing so good, almost off probation. I wish I woulda thought about my actions before doing what I did. If I do get released, I wanna engage in sports to keep me occupied with my day and I just wanna prove I can do good and successfully get off probation. I wish I
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