Bullets into Bells

by Rachel R. Baum

we stand barefoot on Texas soil, branded by tire treads

            we have license to carry

we got taco stands, Buc-ees, oil rigs, guns and ammo

            we have concealed carry license

we drive jacked-up 4 x 4 trucks with rear-racked shotguns

             we have permitless carry

we wear baseball hats, pointed toe boots, and dusty jeans

            we have constitutional carry

we have silver buckled belts for our holstered handguns

            we have possession and carry

we are road rage drivers, flaunting our glovebox firearms

            we have handgun carry

we steam in humidity and heat from asphalt and anger

            we have concealed carry reciprocity

we know a good guy with a gun

            we all carry guns

Rachel R. Baum is the editor of Funeral and Memorial Service Readings Poems and Tributes (McFarland, 1999) and author of the blog Bark: Confessions of a Dog Trainer. Her poems have appeared in Poetica Review, Raven’s Perch, OneArt, and others. She is the founder of the Saratoga Peace Pod, a group of crafters who create warm items for people in crisis.