From the Editor: Not What We Want, What We Must

Photo by Gerald So

The Five-Two has published some memorable holiday poems, usually light in tone. This year, though, the site has a duty not to look past two horrific, raw, unfortunately holiday-related crimes: the hate crime terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney leaving fifteen killed, and the double-murder of actor-director-activist Rob Reiner and his wife Michele by their troubled son, Nick, after a public row during Conan O'Brien's Christmas party.

Indeed I don't want to spend these last days before Christmas prepping to publish a poem about either, but the most worthwhile thing The Five-Two can do is examine the hardest events and issues of our day, give future generations a palpable sense what our time was like, how it affected us as humanity.

That said, if I don't receive a poem, there will be nothing to publish next week. If that's the case, please take the break to be with your loved ones and appreciate life. Come back determined to write and submit.

Thank you for your support over the years.