The Forgotten River: an Anacostia Swim Club member anthology

Cover photo courtesy of Kaleb Friend.

The Forgotten River gathers twenty poems by sixteen poets along with eight artworks by four visual artists to celebrate the ongoing cleanup of the Anacostia river. The included works were selected by Kim B. Miller, Hope Greenleaf, and Thea Joselow for The Anacostia Swim Club, a member social club created to galvanize efforts to clean up the Anacostia river and reconnect to the natural world. Anacostia Swim Club member contributors include Naomi Ayala, Anne Becker, Robert Bettmann, Grace Cavalieri, Marlena Chertock, Kaleb Friend, Luther Jett, W. F. Lantry, Gregory Luce, Pacyinz Lyfoung, Susan Bucci Mockler, Susan Notar, Kathryn Sadakierski, Raymond Smith, Ori Z. Soltes, Marianne Szlyk, Ruth Trevarrow, and Sally Sazariya. 

Click here to purchase the book.

“A lovely compendium of work that captures the enduring nature of the Anacostia river.” 

— Catherine Plume, Sierra Club DC Chapter Chair

“The perfect reminder of the critical work of DC residents, including Anacostia Swim Club members, to make the Anacostia river swimmable for humans and safe for our friends in nature.”

— Devin Walker, musician & host of the Uncle Devin Show

“An illuminating and inspiring work”

— Tykee James, National Audubon Society

The Forgotten River was published in partnership with the Anacostia Swim Club in August 2021. Support for the anthology was provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Anacostia Riverkeeper.

Cover art for the book was provided by Kaleb Friend, used by permission of the artist.