swifts  &  s l o w s · a quarterly of crisscrossings

(im)partial thoughts
Alan Bern

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Footparts of the story’s dreamed crosspaths.

A rounded ghost running through the darkening
streets of the city buying gifts for everyone.

Only maps of travel pretending there is a single route
back from the cut edges

of a flattened folly.

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Retired children’s librarian Alan Bern is the author of three books of poetry and has a hybrid fictionalized memoir (his prose, poetry, and photographs) IN THE PACE OF THE PATH, forthcoming from UNCOLLECTED PRESS. He has awards for his poems and stories and is an exhibited/published photographer. He is also a performer with dancer/choreographer Lucinda Weaver as PACES: dance & poetry fit to the space and with musicians from Composing Together. Lines & Faces, his press with artist/printer Robert Woods, linesandfaces.com.