Khairete! Salaam! Em Hotep! Welcome to the Summer Solstice 2026 issue of Eternal Haunted Summer! The theme for this issue was not a particular subject, but rather length. All the poems included in this issue are exactly one hundred words; all the prose poems are three hundred words; and all the flash fiction is five hundred words.

This proved to be an interesting challenge for contributors (and one I hope they will continue to tackle on their own going forward). Some sought inspiration in the ancient ballads and epics of northern and western Europe; others turned to the spirituality and folklore of far eastern Asia. Still other contributors looked to the golden shores of the Mediterranean and the Nile, while others opened their copies of Grimm and Perrault. A few drew upon the natural world itself, the Wheel of the Year, and even imagined what might come with technology and climate change.

I hope you enjoy the results as much as I did.

In addition to poetry, prose poetry, and flash fiction, this issue also includes Columns from Christopher Greiner (“Ars Poetica, Et Cetera”), Kelly Jarvis (“Multum in Parvo: The Unique Beauty of Small Things in Art, Nature, and Spirituality”), and Gerri Leen (an interview with artist Mimzi Haut). From Dr. Neile Kirk we have the Essay “Karl Marx and Ploutos’ Wealth: On Slavery, Labor, and Language”; and from Chandreyee Chakraborty we have “The Mutilated Suns Keeping Watch: Myths and Mistakes of the Vedic Solar Gods.” There are also Interviews with Irisanya Moon, author of Pagan Portals: Hecate; and poet and essayist Silvatiicus Riddle, who has just released the chapbook In Your Dreams. Finally, the issue closes out with three reviews: A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost and Tales From the Mystic of Sage Street by Alina Lee (both reviewed by Rebecca Buchanan); and Heathen Traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch: An Urglaawe Primer by Robert L Schreiwer, et al (reviewed by Erin Lale).

As always, thank you to the many talented contributors who made this issue possible.

Please post any comments or questions you might have, and enjoy!