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.

Allison Whittenberg

ELEGY FOR FIFTY CENTS

about those unworn baby shoes,
don't leap to tragedy.
everyone knows babies hate things on their feet.
they kick them off.
frugal parents hock them at a yard sale.
this is not news, no
know:
even at the bottom of an iceberg
hope floats


Allison's YouTube reading of "elegy for fifty cents"


Allison confesses nothing.

ALLISON WHITTENBERG is an award winning novelist and playwright. Her poetry has appeared in Columbia Review, Feminist Studies, J Journal, and New Orleans Review. Whittenberg is a ten-time Pushcart Prize nominee. They Were Horrible Cooks is her collection of poetry. Killing the Father of Our Country is her latest novel.

Cithara Patra

I ONLY WENT TO THE STORE

we ran out of eggs
and the store was a few blocks away
it was 5 AM when I stepped outside
a few cars zoomed by as i made my way
i turned the corner and they grabbed me
no words but kicks and punches
breathing in my ear
hands grabbing and shoving me to the ground
does anyone see this?
they’re not coming to my rescue

tears won’t run as they drag me
screams won’t leave my mouth as they yank me
don’t resist, don’t talk back
if i value my life, I won’t fight for it
no explanations will work as they drag me
far from my sidewalk, away from the store
...i was going there.

this is the world I live in now
a world without empathy
no one cares about these bruises
i’ll disappear and no one will know
the bruises on body may heal
maybe i’ll find a way back
and i’ll return without trust
in my fellow man
or love for my country

i lost my freedom at 5 AM
walking to the store
i know i’m not the only one
we suffer together for being
in the wrong place
we’re still in the wrong place
will we make it back?

it’s a big price to pay
and all I wanted
were eggs.


Cithara's YouTube reading of "i only went to the store"


Cithara confesses: "The general inspiration is the news of people being taken away off the streets. Many of them are taken without questions. I just wanted to get into the thoughts of someone in that situation."

CITHARA PATRA currently lives in North Carolina with their family. They've written for a few literary journals including CafeLit, Poetries in English, The Quasar Review, Instant Noodles, and 50 Word Stories. In their spare time, they travel and check out brand new places to eat.

A.C. Perri

BEDDING ENEMIES

You once led an army, bled them,
Used them till they no longer served
Your purpose.

You once led a nation, spirited,
Willing to do almost everything
Until that too came undone.

You once promised us a future,
One secured with wealth and
All things golden, we got pewter instead.

You once swore to allegiance,
Watch you cross your heart
Did you cross your fingers behind our backs?

You once walked our paths,
Said you were one of us
Were they all just lies?

You once led an army, bled them
Dry, skinned their flesh for your
Own bed, how do you sleep at night?!


Gerald So's YouTube reading of "Bedding Enemies"


A.C. confesses: "This poem was inspired by dire images flashing across screens, in particular, the so-called leaders who promise so much, yet deliver so little; leaving most of us wondering what the $#@!."

A.C. PERRI has been writing creative works for over three decades; her works have been published in local and international journals including Bootleg Magazine, Gems Zine, Brilliant Flash, and several Moonstone Press titles.