After A While

This is my favorite Poem, I love it and wanted to share...

After a while you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesnt mean leaning
and company doesnt always mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses arent contracts
and presents arent 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 tomorrows 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 really are strong
and you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
with every goodbye you learn...

by Veronica A Shoffstall