After Awhile

After Awhile


you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul


and you learn 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 always promises


and you begin to accept your defeats



with your head up and 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 too uncertain for plans




and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.(Willie Gillis has one too many pen pals)


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 learnthat you really can endure, that you really are strong and you really do have worth and you learn and you learn
with every good-bye you learn.

Author: Veronica A. Shoffstall

All Photos by my favorite artist, Norman Rockwell