After a while
After a while 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 always mean security.
And you begin to learn
That kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
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
Not to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is to uncertain for plans
And futures have a way
Of falling down in mid flight
After a while you learn
That even sun burns if you get to 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 are really strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
With every goodbye you learn.
~Veronica A. Shoffstall
