Comfort Objects
By Nik Shultz I am taking a break from talking about dolls now, on account of the contest we are currently holding. If you haven’t seen we are accepting writing … Continue Reading Comfort Objects
What the DVT Loves about the MRI
By Mary Christine Delea is its cool detachment. The machine hasnothing to lose or gain no matterwhat is discovered. The MRI, all metaland lights, knows only its own sounds, noises … Continue Reading What the DVT Loves about the MRI
A Straight Shot Between Friends
By Bonnie Larson Staiger after Margaret Haberman’s “How to Make Espresso” In the center of the continentmy landlocked coffee machinegurgles and spits mannaand crema in my insulated mug.Not bad actually … Continue Reading A Straight Shot Between Friends
High School Fashion Dolls
By Nik Shultz When I was just about the age when it was no longer cool to care about dolls, Monster High dolls came out, creating a phenomenon that I … Continue Reading High School Fashion Dolls
Reckless
By William Cass When I was a little boy, I lived for a short time with my uncle’s family while my mom, his younger sister, spent a stint in rehab. … Continue Reading Reckless
A History
By Nik Shultz So by now you might have a sense of my history with dolls, but you still might be confused about why I find them interesting. Let’s look … Continue Reading A History
Mrs. Hardy
By Steven M. Smith in memory of my grandparents’ house cleaner Oh, rubber-gloved heroineof my grandparents’ household!Hair and freckles the color of ripestrawberries. Diminutive, feistymatriarch of the O-Cedar sponge mopand … Continue Reading Mrs. Hardy
Four-Leaf Clover
By Zhihui Zou It was a peaceful hilltop covered by clovers, three-leaf clovers. But that spring, a four-leaf clover grew from a seed that had traveled over in the wind … Continue Reading Four-Leaf Clover
An Explanation
By Nik Shultz So you might be wondering, Why dolls? But before I can answer that question I think I need to give a bit of backstory. I never quite … Continue Reading An Explanation
Hello from the Dollhouse: An Introduction
Meet our new editor of The River for the Spring 2021 semester!
Apparent Pause
by: John Zedolik For the past four years, John Zedolik has been an adjunct English instructor at a number of universities in and around Pittsburgh. He has published poems in … Continue Reading Apparent Pause
Hindsight
by: Aaron Sandberg Aaron Sandberg still plays his Sega Genesis. His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in West Trade Review, Asimov’s, The Offing, Sporklet, Lowestoft Chronicle, Abridged, Giallo, Right … Continue Reading Hindsight
Trespass
by: Aaron Sanberg Aaron Sandberg still plays his Sega Genesis. His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in West Trade Review, Asimov’s, The Offing, Sporklet, Lowestoft Chronicle, Abridged, Giallo, Right … Continue Reading Trespass
Ladies’ Night Out
by: Scott Waters Venus and the moonwent out last nightto set the sky on fire. I saw them in the morning–two laughing, dissipated,revived old girlstottering home acrossa wide black street,thumbing … Continue Reading Ladies’ Night Out
Blanket
by: Scott Waters From the windowof our warm kitchenthe eastern skyblushes like the cheek of the young womanin the pink parkawho spent the nightleaning against a telephone poleacross the streeta … Continue Reading Blanket
Ghost Stories
by: Rylan Hynes The children were older than they looked, crouched down behind the iron fence surrounding the graveyard on a hill. Here, at the crown of the small town, … Continue Reading Ghost Stories