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 really are strong
    and you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
    with every goodbye you learn

© 1971 Veronica A. Shoffstall   rshoffst@bic.org