The ACLU Mountain States Regional Office came across a welfare application used in… (a certain state) for women with illegitimate children. Among the questions:
THE PRIVACY REPORT, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Vol. IV, No. 3, Oct., 1976.
—When and where did you first meet the defendant (the child’s father).
—When and where did intercourse first occur.
—Frequency and period of time during which intercourse occurred.
—Was anyone ever present. If yes, give dates, names, and addresses.
—Were preventive measures always used.
—Have you ever had intercourse with anyone other than the defendant. If yes, give dates, names, and addresses.
When and where did you first
confront loneliness?
When and where did you resist
the urge to die?
Did you pull a blind around
your sorrow?
Was anyone present? If yes, give
names and dates and addresses
Did you survive?
Were preventive measures always
used?
Who listened to the rage of your
silent screams? Give the frequency
and period of time,
dates and names and addresses…
Will you promise never to breathe ice?
To follow the outline
of a city street whose perspective
darkens with the morning light? Document.
Punch-in-the-Face Poetry 