A Literary Magazine Sponsored by The University of Maine at Farmington
The River is a representation of the Sandy River itself, which runs alongside the university and what inspired the name of the journal. It is a constantly flowing, ebbing and surging, body of content filled with contemporary work. To submit to The River please visit our Submissions page to the left or e mail TheRiverEditors@gmail.com directly.
By Mike Piero Daughters for Halle She checks in on me each month, dutiful like clockwork, taking account of the numbers, the signs, and the relief from self-assumed guilt while … Continue Reading “Daughters” and “The Collector of Angels”
By John Tustin The moon touched no room but ours, our bodies made alabaster and when we finished I found your hand and then parted your lips with my own. … Continue Reading A Love Poem
By Lakshya Anant Faith, Not Hope, Not Religion I don’t have faith in hope Hope is a beggar walking through the blaze, Faith is the resilience that leaps over it. … Continue Reading FAITH
By Carolyn Sperry I’m sorry I don’t know more about you— I only heard some basic facts— but I can make it up. Maybe when you were preparing for your … Continue Reading For My Ancestor Who Had Her First Baby Alone on the Floor
By Gabriella Garofalo Hers was the sort of kindness born out of fear,The soul was a scared lady:Particularly when in the morning the grudge of the lightWas quite a piece … Continue Reading To M.W.
By Robert L. Penick It’s three A.M. and Tommy Womack is on Youtube, being a genius that few have ever heard. Outside the window, the rain is tapping its way … Continue Reading Untuned
By Carol Parris Krauss Daddy and Uncle Bobby Daddy and Bobby would plant pennies on the track. Hide behind the azaleas waiting for the two a.m. Narrow Gage Rail to … Continue Reading “Daddy and Uncle Bobby” and “Unpacked and Unpolished”
By Scott Thomas Outlar Harken the dream that captures tired spirits A net flung into the ocean clings to the teeth of salmon Served on a holiday plate or swimming … Continue Reading Dynamite
By Ali Ashhar They say no love could reflect a mother’s love, yet I perceive my maternal aunt portraying that care with the same light— two sister twin one love. … Continue Reading Home of Soul
Ink stains the page in careful swooping patterns as a fountain pen dances acrossthe page. Quick breaths from puckered lips dry the latest line on the page, careful not toblow … Continue Reading A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
By Venus Wright I never thought the night would turn out like this. Lilith is sitting in a ball on the floor of the club’s bathroom, head in her hands … Continue Reading Lying to Make Them Feel Better
You jog down the hallway to biology class, your converse sneaker clad flatt feet thwaping! Against the dated tile floor. You sigh because you know you are going to be … Continue Reading Happy As A Clam Pt. 1
By Venus Wright Am I lying if I portray an image of myself to the world that is different or opposite of the genuine image of myself? When I meet … Continue Reading Are Aesthetics a Lie? – Venus Thoughts
By Jason Abbate The Questioners Sometimes I have a question that I want to ask my father. But I can’t ask him anymore. Therefore, some Greek philosophers would say, I … Continue Reading “The Questioners” and “A Clean and Happy Home”
By John Kucera Renovation My mother claims to recall no pain from her 24 hours of labor.
By Ace Boggess Doc puts her on a new drug— resolves two thirds of her problems (doesn’t sound like much unless you’ve been there) while inflicting a fifth of side … Continue Reading <em>American Dream</em>