Table of Contents

*Special Poetry Issue w/Guest Judge Ashley Wagner*

Untitled (Cover Art): Mario Loprete

Girl Problems (Flash Fiction): Adelina Sarkisyan

In the Woods (Flash Fiction): Mary Grimm

Knell (Poem): Wendy BooydeGraaff

Requiem (Poem): RC deWinter

I Think the Word You’re Looking For Is “Nesting” (Poem): Natalie Eckl

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*Editor’s Note: We’re beyond proud of this issue. Not only is it the first time we’re featuring poetry, but it’s also the 1st issue of our 7th volume. We are beyond lucky to have had the chance to do this for seven years and it’s truly an honor and privilege to feature such incredible writing — to be trusted to be the keepers of your precious words. We look forward to doing this for many more years to come. And last but definitely not least, we’d like to extend a huge thank you to our guest poetry judge, the wonderful Ashley Wagner, for her dedication and efforts in helping us put this beautiful, special issue together. We couldn’t have done it without her. We hope you’ll enjoy this issue as much as we did. Happy reading!

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Untitled (Cover Art): Mario Loprete is a painter and sculptor based in Italy and a frequent contributor to Five on the Fifth. Painting is Mario's first love - an important, pure love. Creating a painting - starting from the spasmodic research of a concept with which he wants to transmit his message - is the foundation of painting for Mario. The sculpture is his lover; his artistic betrayal to the painting - a voluptuous and sensual lover that inspires different emotions and strikes prohibited chords.