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 James Callan A mop and bucket. Warm, soapy water. Even as an advanced, extraterrestrial life form, a member of an elite, illustrious race of spacefaring beings, Friand was a … Continue Reading The High, the Low, the Essential
By Michael Lee Johnson Arthritis and aging make it hard, I walk gingerly, with a cane, and walk slow, bent forward, fear threats, falls, fear denouement— I turn pages, my … Continue Reading “I Age”, “Crypt in the Sky”, and “Priscilla, Let’s Dance”
By Ev Dearborn Song carves through the lounge in disharmony,Collapsing in the foyer, to lay down on its belly by the stairwell. Her spine, feline.She convulses, coughs, grits her teeth … Continue Reading Lament for Piano
By Venus Wright When I was young, from about two years old until around my fourth or fifth year on earth, my mum fibbed every time I’d ask for juice. … Continue Reading Secret Sauce
By Venus Wright I walked out the front door of my apartment building, stopping on the stoop to look up and down the street. Millennial mothers with strollers power walked … Continue Reading Lucas
By Vera Sandronsky Breasts ache, tightness, and pain. Another infection. Why does this keep happening? Nothing else about breastfeeding has been hard. I am hungry in the middle of the … Continue Reading Motherhood: An Ocean of Love and Change
By Mark Belair The Canyon This row of old, soot-blackened buildings holds dark despite being directly struck by sun, each Structure rising, unusually, to the same height, their cornices creating … Continue Reading “The Canyon” and “At Recess
By Venus Wright A small silver bell above the door made a twinkling sound as I pushed through the door. “Good mornin’, how’s it going?” Said a lazy-voiced man behind … Continue Reading Guilt Made Me Do It
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