From “The Only Thing I Imagine Luz Villa Admires about Her Husband’s Gun—” by Xochiquetzal Candelaria

lonely but strong by design. 
She understands its negative worth, 
how it holds in the dark 

Xochiquetzal Candelaria is an American poet whose work has appeared in The Nation, Gulf Coast, The Seneca Review, and Poetry, where you can continue reading this poem. She is the author of Empire and Show Me the Bells.