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
Through His Lens
by: E.B. Taylor Claudette went to the Halloween party as a slutty nurse, the only costume she could find at the last minute, and ate canape in the corner as … Continue Reading Through His Lens
“For You, Birdie”
by: Karen Schauber We were dirt poor back then. We used to imagine being anywhere else but Poêlée Bayou; a low down nowhere town, with nowhere people, and nowhere jobs, … Continue Reading “For You, Birdie”
Love, Sweetpea
By Emalyn Remington Without a doubt, Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous painting is Starry Night. It was Rob’s favorite for sure, and while I do really love it, I prefer … Continue Reading Love, Sweetpea
Finish Line
by: Shana Genre Come to the hospital,she said.He’s dead. My father,body cold and stillears deaf sinewy form stretched,finally at rest,the number from the half- marathon marked along legsthat ran beside … Continue Reading Finish Line
To the Fort
by: Shana Genre Gong of swaying bell buoy& cry of black-backed gullsound my welcome.Beneath, mysteryof urchin, octopus, & humpback whalemove among darkness, caressed by rockweed. A rare guillemot landsupon a … Continue Reading To the Fort
Girls Daring tides, Netart, OR
by: Merridawn Duckler Merridawn Duckler is a writer from Oregon, author of INTERSTATE (dancing girl press) and IDIOM (Washburn Prize, Harbor Review.) Recent work in Ninth Letter, Seneca Review, Interim, … Continue Reading Girls Daring tides, Netart, OR
distracted
Angelina Martin is a poet, comedian, and waitress who lives in Austin, Texas. She has been published in such literary journals as Okay Donkey Mag, Crêpe & Penn Quarterly, and Sea Foam Mag as well as in … Continue Reading distracted