The Bullet Takes Forever

by Heidi Kasa

The Bullet Takes Forever is a collection of poems facing “America’s culture of mass shootings.” The poems range from processing personal experiences with active shooter situations to philosophical, psychological, and linguistic explorations of gun violence. The poems are yearning, vulnerable, and fierce, resonating with readers who feel the effects of rising gun violence and the need for increased safety measures.

81 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2025

Reviews

[Syr Hayati · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have been affected by gun violence - by which I mean, if you live in the United States, this book is necessary. The poems in this collection are put together with a furious compassion and love; they say "you're not imagining it," they say "we deserve better," they say, after Brian Turner, it should break your heart to kill - and they imagine a better world. I know I will need to return to these poems in solidarity and mourning, and I think you will too. May we see a better world. May we continue to resist. And along the way, may we be blessed with unflinching and loving art like this to fortify our hearts.

[Kara Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

With The Bullet Takes Forever, poet Heidi Kasa brings a stark and thoughtful examination of gun violence in America and its cost. Kasa’s poems are surrealist, poignant, sometimes satirical, and often chilling but always thought-provoking. At its core, I think this collection also carries the hope that love can overwrite violence and bring about social change. Kasa’s style is clean and clear, but carries a punch. I needed to sit with the poems to absorb their nuances. It's a heavy but critical topic that Kasa shines a starkly honest light on.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an essential book and an essential read. It broke my heart but also offered possibilities—what if bullets instead became bridges or helmets? This collection is a powerful witness to the destruction wrought by guns and the mostly men who wield them. It points fingers, asks what America has become, and wonders where we go from here. Kasa is a voice to follow!

[Nikei Salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bullet Takes Forever is courage that refuses to look away from the shadow that violence casts over the lives it touches. Heidi Kasa writes with great emotion and precision. A narrative that invites readers to open themselves to empathy over judgment. An invitation to welcome truth.

[Marnie Lansdown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and incredibly powerful.