Nearly 15 years ago, I came across an article in a Bangkok Post issue about a poem attributed to Veronica Shoffstall (it is believed that she merely did the translation of the poem written by an Argentine short story writer and poet Jorge Luis Borges).

The poem hit a nerve, and I asked my then significant other if he could listen as I read the poem. I could barely finish reading it when tears started flowing down my cheeks – it was beautiful and a huge chunk of the words where things I lived through.

It is cathartic to cry until you could cry no more and when I do need to shed, reflecting on what life has dealt on me, I read this poem. Not only does it talk about life, love and loss, it also inspires and empowers.

Read it and then try saying the words to yourself. It is too beautiful to pass up.

After a While

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 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 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 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.

-Veronica Shoffstall/Jorge Luis Borges