Come the Dawn

by Judith B. Evans

After a while, you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that loving doesn't mean leaning
and company isn't security

(Kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises.)
After a while you begin to accept your defeats
with your head held up and your eyes open,
With with the grace of woman, not the grief of a child
And you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain
and the inevitable has a way of crumbling in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns
if you stand too long in one place.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn you really can endure,
that you really do have worth
You learn that with every good-bye comes the hdawn