After a While : Victoria Shofstall

After a while,
you learn the subtle difference between,
holding a hand and charming a soul,
and you learn that love doesn't mean learning,
and company doesn't always 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 roads on today,
because tomorrow's ground is,
too uncertain for plans,
and futures have a way,
of falling down to mid flight.

And 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 are really strong,
and you really do have worth,
and you learn and you learn,
with every good bye you learn.

Old and New: Anonmyous

She went up the mountain to pluck wild herbs;
She came down the mountain and met her former husband.
She knelt down and asked her former husband,
"What do you find your new wife like?"
"My new wife, although her talk is clever,
cannot charm me as my old wife could.
In beauty of face there is not much to choose,
But in usefulness they are not alike.
My new wife comes in from the road to meet me;
My old wife came down from her  tower.
My new wife is clever at embroidering silk;
My old wife is good at plain sewing.
Of old silk embroidery, one can do an inch a day;
Of plain sewing, more than five feet.
Putting her silks by the side of your sewing,
I see that the new will not compare with the old".