Comes the Dawn

This poem. These words. They shifted something deep within me when I first read them back in 1992. They literally jumped off the page and sat on my heart. The timing was perfect, as I so desperately needed them. Let them do that to you too, or send to someone who does.

"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 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 can really 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.

In Peace and Love,

Barbara xo