Comes The Dawn

After a while you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul

And you learn that love doesn't mean security

And you begin to understand that contracts aren't kisses

And presents aren't promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats

With your head held high and your eyes wide open

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.

You learn to build 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....

And you learn

With every goodbye you learn.

Veronica A.Shoffstall