Penned by a college girl, the poem shows maturity in thought and tenderness in writing. I wonder if the experience of a failed relationship had made her wise.
by V.A. Shoffstall (attrib)
if you get a good wife, you'll become happy (and that's good for you both);
if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher (and that's good for everybody)."
- Socrates
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 woman, not the grief of a child,
And you learn to build all of 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.