s w i f t s  &  s l o w s: a quarterly of crisscrossings

Pulse of time repeating itself
Kathleen Reichelt & Rich Ferguson

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Pulse

Pulse of heartbeat. 
Pulse of Cyndi Lauper songbeat.
Pulse of lights, pulse of lights.
Pulse of bodies dancing. 
Pulse of joy & freedom.
Pulse of heartbeat, pulse of songbeat.
Pulse of clock striking 2 a.m.
Pulse of gunfire.
Pulse of gunfire.
Pulse of brains wondering if that sound
   is part of the song.
Pulse of gunfire, pulse of gunfire.
Pulse of voices yelling, crying, screaming.
Pulse of bodies rushing for safety.
Pulse of bathroom & exit doors swinging open & closed.
Pulse of gunfire echoing through screams. 
Pulse of fingers frantically tapping out final texts.
Pulse of sirens, pulse of sirens.
Pulse of bullets searing flesh, shattering bones.
Pulse of bloodshed, pulse of bloodshed.
Pulse of bodies breathing final breaths.
Pulse of bodies feeling final pulse of songs.
Pulse of final breaths & heartbeat songs mixed with blood
& pulse of sirens.
Pulse of the internet blowing up with another mass shooting.
Pulse of networks blowing up with another mass shooting.
Pulse of newscasters speaking the names 
   of the injured & dead.
Pulse of politicians speaking the names 
   of the injured & dead.
Pulse of shock, rage & fear.
Pulse of tears, pulse of tears.
Pulse of anguish & confusion.
Pulse of tears, pulse of tears.
Pulse of time repeating itself.
Pulse of protests, pulse of prayers.
Pulse of protests, pulse of prayers.
Pulse of brains wondering when the next round
of bullets will fly.
Pulse of brains wondering why the next round
of bullets must fly.
Pulse of time repeating itself.
Pulse of protests, pulse of prayers.
Pulse of protests, pulse of prayers.

Quick, turn to the person next to you.
Place two fingers upon their wrist. 
Feel the pulse of blood.
Remind yourself you’re still alive.

Single Maligned Female

Maligned, misappropriated, torch-bearing woman seeks a loving relationship with a free-minded country, including all its tired, poor, and huddled immigrant masses. Must be benevolent, enlightened, and able to relocate to New York City area. Willing to overlook baldness, impotency, and certain STDs so long as you’re not an oppressive, egomaniacal tyrant, and are into plus-sized, copper-skinned women. Open to ethnic origin, religion, and sexual orientation so long as you’ve had no shady entanglements with the Kremlin. Turned on by truth dealers and justice seekers. Prefer false teeth over false democracy. Doxers, Twitter bots, internet trolls need not apply.

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Poetry: Rich Ferguson.  Collages: Kathleen Reichelt.

Pushcart Prize-nominated poet Rich Ferguson has shared the stage with Patti Smith, Wanda Coleman, Moby, and other esteemed poets and musicians. Ferguson has been selected by the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. (NBPF), to serve as the State of California Beat Poet Laureate (Sept. 2020 to Sept. 2022). He is a featured performer in the film, What About Me? featuring Michael Stipe, Michael Franti, k.d. lang, and others. His poetry and award-winning spoken-word music videos have been widely anthologized, and he was a winner in Opium Magazine’s Literary Death Match, L.A. He is the author of the poetry collection, 8th& Agony (Punk Hostage Press), and the novel, New Jersey Me (Rare Bird Books). Ferguson’s newest poetry collection, Everything is Radiant Between the Hates, will be published in January 2021 by Moon Tide Press.
Rich Ferguson →

Kathleen Reichelt is a visual artist, writer and performer based in the Thousand Islands, Canada.
Kathleen Reichelt Studio→