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...
© 1971 Veronica A. Shoffstall
Comments (5)
Storm9167
Hm, I kinda feel like I'm living there right now!! Real or percieved,what a surprise.. As alway's excellant writings.. I just hope that I do a better job of not being a fair weather fan!!
Wolfspirit
The moral of the story, pay attention to what you attach too, "suppose to" is a dream, reality just is.
mamabobbijo
AH! They could have enjoyed the 99 years in total bliss, instead they expected the worst, spent all their time preparing. If you expect the worst, you will not be disappointed. If you expect the best you may be pleasantly surprised. If you expect nothing and appreciate everything, you will be happy.
DennisReed
Farout piece! Bravo!
PhrankPower
You get from the Universe what you ask of it, and that your perception of life becomes your reality. So if you choose to see only Gloom and Doom thats what you'll see. So, as this story exemplifies, we can live in paradise but only see hell, if that be our choice. We all seem to know this, but how many of us really believe this in our heart of hearts? How many of us who profess to have such a belief really practice it?