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. . . build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans

White Umbrella and Its Shadow by Purplepick via Flickr (edited)After a While

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
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
That you are really strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
With every good bye you learn.

Veronica A. Shoffstall

If anyone has a biography of Veronica Shoffstall, please point in the right direction. Thank you.

Published in POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, WELLBEING & POETRY

3 Comments

  1. Gaye Prior Gaye Prior

    hello Jo

    This is a really thought provoking poem, it has kept me company all day. T

  2. Gaye Prior Gaye Prior

    hello Jo

    This is a really thought provoking poem, it has kept me company all day. Thank you

  3. Bri Bri

    I love this poem! It is a translation from the original poem by Jorge Luis Borges.

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