Calmed by the Storm - Coming Together in Harshest Weather

How a Twister Can Weave the Fabric of a Family Back Together

Linda Ann Nickerson
"There are some things
you learn best in calm,
and some in storm."

Willa Cather
(1873 - 1947)

Playing tag and tug o' wars,
We look up. The sky, it pours.
Suddenly, a siren roars.
"Children, quickly! Get indoors!"

Clouds appear; the air is still
Like the blades on our windmill.
Suddenly, we feel a chill,
As we run for home, uphill.

Round and round and round it goes,
As the maelstrom loudly blows,
Will it miss us? Heaven knows.
Weather warnings, tornadoes.

Down the road, the lights are dark.
Trees are falling in the park;
"Papa should have built an ark!"
Mother Nature leaves her mark.

Cowering beneath the ground,
Trembling at the angry sound,
Feuding kin finds neutral ground.
Such a moment is profound.

Huddled there in candlelight,
Conflicts fade into the night.
As the storm puts up a fight,
Differences are set to flight.

Crises, dangers, times of fear,
Perils in the atmosphere,
Join us to the ones so dear,
As old grudges disappear.

Hunkering against the storm,
In the basement, safe and warm,
In our sweet sub-level dorm,
We find peace in purest form.

Published by Linda Ann Nickerson - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle and Sports

Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of reporting and a globally minded Midwestern perspective to a host of topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor.   View profile

20 Comments

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  • Layla Lair 3/18/2008

    Wonderful job with your poem and the picture is very powerful as well.

  • Kassidy Emmerson 3/16/2008

    Such a beautiful and stirring piece! I love Spring, but not the nasty storms. :-)

  • Amy Brantley 3/15/2008

    What a beautiful peace. There is something dangerous, yet beautiful about something as powerful as a hurricane.

  • Tony Vega 3/15/2008

    I see the dangerous beauty in this piece...or rather the beauty in the danger. What a fantastic accompanying image & quote. A true talent!

  • Mary Lynn 321 3/15/2008

    Excellent, you definitely have everything down how I feel in a bad storm. Hugs Mary

  • Kady the Hippie Woodstock 3/14/2008

    Wonderful!!!!!!

  • SAIKAT KUMAR DUTTA 3/14/2008

    very nice poetry on natures anger.

  • Michael K. Miller 3/13/2008

    Good meter and word choice. Great subtext. There are many kinds of storms. There is only one Peace. Wonderful watercolor of it all, Linda Ann. Thank you. Best, Michael

  • Joshua Cook 3/13/2008

    Great poem and amazing imagery. Love the storm photo, also.

  • mimpi 3/12/2008

    I was totally into the storm! great choice of pic.

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