After A While/ Comes the Dawn

After awhile you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul,
and you learn that
love doesn't mean leaning,
and company doesn't mean security,
and you begin to learn
that kisses are not contracts
and presents aren't promisis,
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up
and your eyes ahead
with the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child,
and you learn to build all of your roads
on today because tomorrow's ground
is too uncertain for plans,
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that
even sunshine burns
if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul,
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers.

And you learn that
you really can endure...
That you really do have worth.

And you learn and you learn...
with every goodbye you learn.

By Veronica A. Shoffstall