Comes the Dawn

Comes the Dawn
Veronica Shorffstall, 1971
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.


I memorized this poem in high school and it's been stuck in my head the last few days. I think the part about focusing on today because tomorrow is uncertain is what is sticking with me. My complaint about last year is that it seemed like every plan I made was ruined. Usually by something big and bad. And whatever it was kept me down for a long time. So that is one of my goals for this year. To go with the flow and not focus so much on what is to come but where I am today. It sounds simple right? But I am a chronic compulsive planner. Which is funny when you're as disorganized as I am. I'm tired of missing out on things because I'm scared of what might happen to mess them up, though.