Taxidriver ran the stoplight. He almost got t-boned by an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. Almost. Seconds later a police cruiser squawked its siren and swung into pursuit. Seeing the cop in his rearview mirror, Taxidriver laughed. His teeth were filthy. In the backseat, Ragingbull was gluing sandpaper to his boxing gloves. When he heard the siren, he said, “Shit,” and he threw more money at Taxidriver…
Interview with Kevin Sampsell
“I am locked in the bedroom again. She does this to me sometimes. This time it’s been four months. She gives me books and newspapers to read, a battery-powered lantern, and some blankets. In the middle of the night she sneaks in, ties my hands down, and touches me. It’s best if I don’t struggle during this. She swallows and then kisses me hard, her…
Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Lion With References to Sontag’s “Unguided Tour” by Jamie Carr
1. This is the last stop, kid. Ferry boats like giants. When you left for London, you started with my eyes. “Come on Lion,” I said. “Say it like you mean it.” And you did. Tasted like metal. The thugs and the clowns and the tourists, I was all of them and none. Excuse me ma’am, have you seen a part? It’s missing. Drowning….
Playing the Part by Corey Ginsberg
“You always have to play the part, don’t you?” she slurs at his image in the bathroom mirror with her third-glass-of-wine inflection. “Maybe I do.” He adjusts the cufflinks on his sky-blue shirt, the cufflinks she likes to remind him cost nearly half as much as her wedding ring. “Maybe we both do.” They’re late as usual—about to cross the line from fashionably tardy to…
Interview with Winter 2013 Cover Designer, Paige Einstein
We have a lot to be excited about at the Portland Review lately. Our first issue of 2013 is coming out in just a couple of weeks. It is full of excellent writing and beautiful art, some pieces in the issue come from people whose names you hear often in the Portland literary scene—like Kevin Sampsell and Lidia Yuknavitch—and some whose names we’re sure you’ll…