After A While
by Veronica A. Shoffstall
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 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
you really are strong
you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn
with every goodbye, you learn…
I read this poem ages ago, while I was learning these things. Now having learned them, it still speaks to me.
But I am glad I still have someone to bring me flowers, too.
7 Responses
One of my favorite poems. It was great to hear it again.
How did I miss this poem — both the poem and the poet are new to me – Thank you so much for sharing
Thanks for posting this.
Beautiful poem, donna. Thank you for sharing it with us.
It has taken me a long time to learn grace.
But the goodbyes have gotten harder, if anything. They are more permanent, these days.
I find myself feeling the same way.
Thank you for this! I just love the line “with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.”