Comes the Dawn

In conversation with a new friend yesterday, I was reminded of this poem that I was very affected by when I first read it.  I came home and immediately looked for the book in which I knew I had first read the poem.  I found it in a book I had purchased several years ago entitled, “Please Don’t Say You Need Me,” although the author of that book (Jan Silvious) did not author this poem.  She included it in her work as additional support for her writing.

I offer the same here, as a poem that contains much truth and is as applicable today as it was for me back then.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

               Comes the Dawn

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 understand that kisses aren’t contracts

     And presents aren’t promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats

     With your head held high and your eyes open,

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.

     You learn to build your roads

On today because tomorrow’s ground

     Is too uncertain for plans, and futures have

A way of falling dowin in midflight.

     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 learn . . . and you learn

With every goodbye you learn.

                                  - Veronica A. Shoffstall

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