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
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Comments (10)
TallPockets
I guess the only why I can come up with is to leave a beautiful legacy. Excellent work. Vote.
experimental
Excellent work. I almost cried along with her uncle. I've known several people who have never known their parents, and it is still hard for them everyday.
cagewench
As an adoptee, I have ALWAYS viewed my "real" parents as the ones who loved, nutured and raised me -- in my life, this means my adoptive parents are my REAL parents, and even though they are now both deceased, that will not change...
eternalwytch1
Family is the one you make sometimes. Love doesn't always have to come through bloodlines. Wonderful piece babes.
miserys_extacy
Sad...
tony_br22
amazing wording
Shadowmonkey
Your family are those who carried for you, raised you and help you through the hard times. Beautifully written but full of sorrow, excellent posting.
nicokorn
You are writing with so much feeling. I fear I'm unable to describe this with my english in a way that really expresses how brilliant your poetry is.
shemia
Being in a melancholy mood this piece made me want to cry... there is so much feeling to this. Excellent job.
micsteel
Birth is chance, or fate. Love is Family.