In the Gazebo


"'Come in,' she said,
'I'll give you shelter from the storm.'"

--Bob Dylan, "Shelter from the Storm"


A storm can be a frightening thing. The lightning flashes, the thunder roars, and the wind tries to push the rain through the walls. We expect children and pets to be scared, while we, the adults, calm their fears.

But we adults sometimes find that sometimes our lives become just as stormy. That's when we need somebody or something to calm us, to tell us that the storm will eventually end, and the sun will shine again.

Of course, one doesn't need a storm to take shelter. Our lives are full of little rainshowers that can and do happen to us. A bad day in traffic, a long wait in a lineup, or--as you can see--dropping one's groceries can turn a sunshiny day cloudy.

When I encounter a personal storm or just when something goes wrong, I often turn to literature to see me through to the end of the disturbance. Here are some of my favourites:


  • Don't Quit This little poem has seen me through some very tough times, and I'm sure it can help you too.

  • Footprints This one is for those times when you feel alone.

  • Desiderata An excellent set of guidelines for living one's life.

  • Do Not Stand... It's never easy when a relative or friend dies. This poem has helped me through a few of those times.

  • The Rainbow Bridge The loss of a beloved pet can be just as devastating. This story has given me comfort during those times.

  • The Legacy A few lines from Bobbie Schlatter, reminding us that when a loved one is gone, a little still remains.

  • The Value of a Smile A little poem about something that seems to be getting rarer and rarer these days.

  • If... The timeless classic by Rudyard Kipling.

  • Interior Dorothy Parker describes a situation that people like myself are all too familiar with.

  • Prayer to Persephone By Edna St. Vincent Millay. Would that we all had a Persephone to tell us it is not so dreadful here!

  • The Little Cares... Elizabeth Barrett Browning reminds us that we might well find respite from our troubles in a garden.


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