Tale of Two Americas

An Interactive Poetic

By Nikki Ummel

Find the word in the puzzle.

Words can go in any direction.

Words can share letters as they cross over each other.

COLUMBINE
NY STATE RIFLE AND PISTOL ASSN V BRUEN
ROBB
SECOND AMENDMENT
STONEMAN DOUGLAS
SANDY HOOK
VIRGINIA TECH
RED LAKE
SANTA FE
STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA V HELLER
EXPIRATION OF THE FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
MCDONALD V CITY OF CHICAGO
RETURN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ACT
PROTECTION OF LAWFUL COMMERCE IN ARMS ACT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FIREARMS OWNERS PROTECTION ACT

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NIKKI UMMEL is a queer artist, editor, and educator in New Orleans. Nikki has been published or has work forthcoming in Gulf Coast, The Georgia Review, Black Lawrence Press’ In the Tempered Dark, and others. She is the 2022 recipient of the Leslie McGrath Poetry Prize. Nikki is the co-founder of LMNL, an arts organization focused on readings, workshops, and residencies. She has two poetry chapbooks, Hush (Belle Point Press, 2022) and Bayou Sonata (NOLA DNA, 2023), funded by the New Orleans’ Jazz and Heritage Foundation. You can find her on the web at nikkiummel.com.

 This poem originally appeared in Stonecoast Review Issue 22. 

US Flag Photo by D1_TheOne