After A While You Learn - Veronica A. Shofstall

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


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


That you are really strong


And you really do have worth


And you learn and you learn


With every good bye you learn.