A Poem With a Beautiful Lesson
After A While
©1971 Veronica A. Shoffstall
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 woman,
not the grief of a child
and you learn
to build all 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
you really are strong
you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn
with every goodbye, you learn...