After A While Poem by Robin Parker

Taken From Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul:

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 arn't
contracts
and presents arn't promises,
and you begin to accept your defeats with
your head up
and your eyes open, with the grace of
and adult, not the grief of a child
and you learn to build all your roads on
today because tomorrows ground is
to uncertain for plans.
After a while you learn that sunshine
burns if you get too much,
so 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 worthiness...
and you learn and you learn...
with every goodbye you learn...