The men lie and the women make candy//Nate Darden

Holler families hosted
Candy Nights in Heaton–
trekking through frost,
arms laden with dishpans,
sugar, cocoa.

Women huddled
over the wood stove,
sweating their aprons off,
boiling cheap sugar,
beating until firm.

Their husbands circled,
boasting about prize
buck and bass.
Children gorged
until sugar-sick.

Nate Darden is currently pursuing his M.A. in English at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. Nate’s poetry dives into the nuances of his familial and romantic relationships, detailing the intricate emotions that come along. His work has previously been featured in Carolina Muse Literary & Arts magazine, 7th-Circle Pyrite, and Gnashing Teeth SEX/X/Y zine. You can find him on Instagram @nate_darden.