RUTH LOUISE HILL

(1950 --)
(b.) Ilion, New York (l.) Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada
Certified Design Engineer; Gardener; Poet
Winner of a 2009 International Honor Scroll Award,
17th Annual National Senior Poets Laureate Competition
Winner Georgia State Poetry Society Langston Hughes 3rd Place Award
Influenced by immigrants' stories about World War Two, her signature poem
memorializes innocent, joyful children of immigrants and symbolizes how she
would like to be remembered: for her compassion toward others.

Won 4th honorable mention in 2009 Anita McAndrews "Poets for Peace" Contest.

PEAS ON A FREIGHT TRAIN

"Oooh, lots of water!"
"Yeah, we're so lucky to be here."
"She takes good care of us."
"Soil's not too bad..."
"...kinda sour though."
"But not too bad."
"And look at all that sun!"
"...that famous Peace River sun."
"A little too hot for me."
"I hope there's lots of bees."
"Yeah, lots of bees to tickle us... hee hee."
"And birds..."
"But just singing birds."
"And no cows."
"Goodness, no, no cows!"
"Imagine, all the way out to BC!"
"Yeah, I thought we'd never make it, all that rocking and shaking."
"And all that weight on top of us."
"And dry: I almost dried out to my middle."
"But, here we are, lucky to be alive."
"Hey, down there, I found a trellis: we have a view!"
"Ouch! There's thistles here!"
"Let them be. They're good for the soil."
"And for birds."
"It's like loosestrife: someone in government
           decides some beautiful flower is a weed,
           so they kill them all."
"Mmm. Good thing we weren't on freight train #1943."
"Tell me! I'm too young to know."
"Well, someone in government
           decided some beautiful people were weeds,
           so they 'weeded' them."
"Oh, dear!"
"Yeah, good thing we were not on that freight train."
"You mean it could've been us?"
"Well, if they can do it to one, they can do it to another."
"Oooh."
"Let's never call anything a weed, O.K.?"
"All agreed."
"Just look how lucky we are:
           we've got a gardener, soil, water, a view,
           and that famous Peace River sunshine."
"Yeah! Here's to a really good summer you guys, yahoo!"
"Yahoo!"

Ruth Louise Hill
ruthhill@joiedevivregardens.ca
Chetwynd, British Columbia, Canada