"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 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
A great poem... I'm not familiar with Shoffstall, must look for more! especially resonant for me: the turning to self rather than the Other.... it's a wholly different perspective when we say the Other had different needs, or the Other went a diiferent road than I'm on, than to say I disappointed them or let them down, whatever they might say in the leaving. You know, even SAYING a different perspective to myself, even when I don't believe it in my butt-hurt mind, helps me get back consciously to my own path.
ReplyDeleteOnce when you & I were in emotional/conversational disarray you said something like " I think we can't hear each other now", implying maybe later.... I could hardly STAND it at the time, from my own so wanting resolution, understanding- but knew you were probly right, obviously we weren't hearing each other, and there was nothing else to be done about it. SO. We continue our road building from TODAY, informed as today is with our experience and memories and expectations & desires... OK. building with the grace of woman.... Thankyou.
A great poem... I'm not familiar with Shoffstall, must look for more! especially resonant for me: the turning to self rather than the Other.... it's a wholly different perspective when we say the Other had different needs, or the Other went a diiferent road than I'm on, than to say I disappointed them or let them down, whatever they might say in the leaving. You know, even SAYING a different perspective to myself, even when I don't believe it in my butt-hurt mind, helps me get back consciously to my own path.
ReplyDeleteOnce when you & I were in emotional/conversational disarray you said something like " I think we can't hear each other now", implying maybe later.... I could hardly STAND it at the time, from my own so wanting resolution, understanding- but knew you were probly right, obviously we weren't hearing each other, and there was nothing else to be done about it. SO. We continue our road building from TODAY, informed as today is with our experience and memories and expectations & desires... OK. building with the grace of woman.... Thankyou.
Hmmm... That poem has been framed and hanging on my bathroom wall for about 4 years now... Guess you didn't notice it when you spent all that time at my home.
ReplyDeleteM
Perhaps I did notice it...and retained only a subconscious recollection.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for giving me a reason to read that poem again. Today of all days.
ReplyDelete