After a while

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 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 to build 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 you 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 are strong

and you really do have worth.

And you learn and you learn...

With every goodbye you learn.

Veronica A. Shoffstall