angular in general,
where the grip meets hammer
and muzzle becomes trigger
a circular barrel
pointed bullets
and flat, fast death

heavy in an unexpecting hand
too familiar in a cold one
curious, in mine,
shooting bullets over empty water
and empty clicks in a full room
tentative
exhilarated
I won’t pretend power has no grasp

but I don’t need it
no one does,
even the people who say they do

so take it
take all of them
throw them in the fire
melt them down to something we can use to create
a sewing machine
culinary utensils
art

take away the deaths of twenty children
take away the falls of six teachers
take away adam lanza
away from the guns
away from a week ago
away from murder

I don’t understand who wouldn’t trade our second amendment to have those lives back.