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 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 man or woman

Not the grief of a child.

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 mid-flight

After a while you learn

That even sunshine burns

– if you ask too much

So you plant your own garden

And decorate your own soul

Instead of waiting for someone else

-to bring you flowers

After a while you learn

That you really can endure

And you really are strong

And that you really do have worth.

And you learn

And you learn

And with every goodbye

You learn.

——-

Poem © Jesse Bwanakambi

Image: Andy Rennie via Flickr