Cover Letters

Thoughts while writing cover letters to women at Mt, Pleasant Correctional Facility. (Creative piece)

“FIRST NAME”.
The first word they learned to write. The first word that defines who they are. The first thing that is theirs. Over the years, first names become more than empty, recognition, calling mechanisms. These names are what bring individuality and humanity. They might carry the inheritance of a past loved one, or they might carry the name of a Greek Goddess, or a Latin-based natural phenomenon, or they might just carry the aesthetic taste of the name-giver. The first name carries a significant time in a persons life, when someone cares enough about them to take the time to give them their humanity…

“LAST NAME”.
The second most important name. The one that defines their genealogy, their origin and who they belong too. The one that appears on passports, credit cards and later, press releases, news paper articles, court cases and legal files. The one that is repeated over and over again in accusatory, harsh ways. The last name is the one that changes, that defines who will own and abuse them or respect and love them…

“OFFENDER DOC #.”
A number. No longer a human being. No longer worthy of being recognized with rights, feelings, opinions and emotions. A means of control, imprisonment and regulation.

“ADDRESS”
1200 East Washington Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility, Iowa Prison IA 52641.
Somehow Mt. Pleasant and Correctional Facility don’t fit together...

Dear… LAST NAME