After a While
After a While
From A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul
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 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.
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 . . .
Veronica A. Shoffstall
Submitted by Barbara Cowdy
Reprinted by permission of Veronica A. Shoffstall. ©1971 Veronica A. Shoffstall.
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Title: Reprinted by permission of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC © 1994. In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent. All rights reserved.