Comes The Dawn

This a poem I came across as a teenager, wrote it down, and tucked it away in a box of things to save. I recently came upon it again, and it has more meaning for me now than it did then.  It's almost like I went back in time and wrote it down because I knew I would need to read it later in life!!!  I don't know who the author is, but I thank them.

Comes The Dawn

After awhile 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 open,

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And learn to build all 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 awhile 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 learn...

With every goodbye you learn.