. . . Together we’ll make it to safety, at last,
and in the meantime, we can pull more bottles
into the boat until it’s so full of life that it wouldn’t
dare sink
Our combined strength will steer us to land,
to the promised land where we’ll all be safe
and cherished for having sailed through rough water,
through the storm and the howling night
and then,
and then,
and then, we can go forth into better days to tell our
stories of the ordeal, of survival, of determination,
of grit, of courage, of patience and fortitude
because life always trumps fear and
together we will overcome all odds
The boat is a bit leaky but it’s sturdy enough
it will endure, if we all pull together
A rowboat is small comfort in rough seas
but it’s still better than nothing
Excerpt from the book, ENOUGH “Say Their Names . . .”
Amalie Rush Hill
Amalie Rush Hill is an artist and writes poetry, novels, essays, and short stories. Her Ambolaja science fiction series includes Ambolaja: Into the Light, Discontinuity, The Shoals Of Time and Z’Torr. Her first book of poetry is The House on Prune Alley and she is working on several more collections. Three of her poems appear in each of the Bob Hill Publishing anthologies Moments Before Midnight and Terra Incognita. Her artwork appears on her book covers. From early childhood, Amalie spent most of her time drawing, reading, and even before learning to read, she scribbled stories on scraps of paper to tell her mother. Fortunately, both of her parents were artists who encouraged her creative endeavors. A quiet child, her mother could take her anywhere, and so she listened and observed, watching people’s mannerisms and even taking in their home decor. Since her time as a theatre major with art and English minors at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, she has continued exploring diverse fields of interest such as history, religion, and metaphysics because she has never ceased wanting to know more. She is currently indulging her curiosity by studying quantum physics, not as a physicist or mathematician, but as a lover of science, new knowledge, and the mind-bending possibilities of its weirdness. Amalie is a member of the Oregon Poetry Association, the Mid-Valley Poetry Society, and has been a regular participant in open mics, and as a featured reader in Eugene, Salem, and the Portland area. She currently participates in Zoom poetry readings. Amalie has been married to Bob Hill since 1968. Bob’s mother, two dogs, and four cats live with them on a rural tree farm near Salem, OR. They have two sons and five grandchildren who live in Salem and Portland. Her poetry is often inspired by the trees and wildlife surrounding their home.
