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.

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 to uncertail 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 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 really are strong
and you really do have worth
and you learn and you learn
with every goodbye you learn.


Author unknown to me but this poem was given to me by my friend Karrine, and for many years its been in a frame on my wall.
Pass it on to anyone in need of this poem,