<?php $latest_posts = new WP_Query('showposts=5'); ?><?php while ($latest_posts->have_posts()) : $latest_posts->the_post(); ?>
	<h4><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" title="Permanent Link to <?php the_title_attribute(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h4>
	<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
<?php endwhile; ?>