So early as it is now, I sit on the edge of my bunk. I have the thin prison mattress lapped over the edge of the slab of steel I sleep on, to make it more comfortable. It is mid-summer, so the bright sun has already taken over my cell. So strong, so hot through the barred window.

Time to prepare. I move over to sit on the low trash can. I have a thin piece of plastic in my hand. There to the left of my leg… they sit. All three lined up waiting… An onion, a pepper, and a potato. I am preparing them for a “jail-house stew”. Little stuff, much water.

As I hover over the three, I pick the pepper first. It’s a red pepper, not too big, not too small… I begin, I slice very small pieces. For this must feed two. Patiently, slowly, I work. The bright sun upon the red of the pepper heightens it’s colors. While bending over so close, one can see multi-colors so rich. One’s mind can begin to drift. Mine does. I see places and things, on the side of a vegetable. I see sunsets, and the redness of the hair of a beautiful woman.

Finished with the pepper, I move on to the potato. I pick it up, bring the brown up close to my nose. The sun upon the brown becomes earth. I drift… I see a brown path through the woods. I see me upon a spirited brown horse, and I ride. I slice into the potato, now there is an off white color to the inner potato. I see sand, a beach, me upon it jogging to its end, till I run out of sand.

Last, thee onion. Slowly, I strip the thin skin. It makes a sound. I drift… I think of silk garments, those of a perfumed woman…I begin to cut small pieces, I stop; I reach for my cheap-sunglasses, the fumes you see. I begin again. The strong sun hits the onion’s flesh. I drift… I see diamonds, I see blue diamonds, yellow diamonds, clear too … When I get to the core, it is much shinier. So white, like clouds, puffy white clouds.

Finished. I stand up straight, look at the piles, and smile.

BY MAIL:

Correspondence to the Attorney General, may be sent to:

U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

BY E-MAIL:

E-mails to the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General, may be sent to…