An Old But Favorite Poem

No promises, but I'm going to try blogging regularly once again. =)  A little something to share, I ran across it while cleaning.

After A While

After a while you learn the subtle difference

between holding a hand and sharing a life

and you learn that love doesn't mean possession

and company doesn't mean security

and loneliness is universal.

And you learn that kisses aren't contracts

 and presents aren't promises

and you begin  to accept your defeats

with the grace of a woman

not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build your hopes on today

as the future has a way of falling apart in mid-flight

because tomorrow's ground can be too uncertain for plans

yet each step taken in a new direction creates a path

toward the promise of a brighter dawn.

And you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much

so you plant your own garden

and nourish your own soul

instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that love, true love

always has joys and sorrows

seems ever present, yet is never quite the same

becoming more than love

and less than love

so difficult to define.

And you learn that through it all

you really can endure

that you really are strong

that you do have value

and you learn and grow

with every goodbye

you learn.

Veronica Shoffstall