TELL ME A STORY

TELL ME A STORY
"Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." Joel 1:3

Friday, May 30, 2014

AFTER A WHILE

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

 Today's blog  is a brief intermission between Part One and Part Two of "GONDALIER WANTED '  -- Adventures With the Norwood Girls in Kansas City, Missouri.  

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

  My gift to you today 
is a poem,  
After A While,
  by Veronica A. Shoffstall.  

I've loved one of Veronica's *quotes for years,
and just learned that it is a part of a longer poem.

"...*Plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting 
for someone to bring you flowers..."

Yarrow planted in my front yard.  Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood
   
I searched for biographical information 
about Veronica Shoffstall
but did not find anything.  

Her poem is a treasure.  

I wish Veronica could tell us 
the stories behind her wisdom.

Yarrow planted in my front yard.  Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

My soul needs encouragement, 
and maybe - just maybe
your soul needs encouragement, too.


Yarrow planted in my front yard.  Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

AFTER A WHILE 
 Poem by Veronica A. Shoffstall
Photos from Marcia's Garden

I actually took Veronica's advice,
and planted my own garden,
rather than waiting for someone to bring me flowers.
She's right.   
It decorates my soul.
 

Hydrangea potted plant  in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


AFTER A WHILE




By Veronica A. Shoffstall


 
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 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.

And 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 really are strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn…
With every goodbye, you learn.

 
Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

 

 Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Clematis.    Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Clematis.    Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Clematis.    Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood


Clematis.    Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Clematis.    Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Knock-out roses along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Knock-out roses along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Knock-out roses, Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Loriope - along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Cottage Charm:  Knock-out roses, Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Loriope - along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Red and Yellow Knock-out roses, Arborvitae, Boxwood - along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Yellow Knock-out roses, Arborvitae, Boxwood - along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Red Knock-out roses, Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Red Yarrow  - along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Yellow and Red Knock-out roses, Arborvitae, Boxwood - along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Clematis in my side yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Red and Yellow Knock-out roses, Arborvitae, Boxwood - along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Yellow Knock-out roses, Arborvitae, Boxwood - along street in my front yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Clematis in side yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Clematis climbs on bench/arbor  in side yard.   Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

My Front Yard.    Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood

My Front Yard.    Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood

My Front Yard.    Copyright 2011 Marcia Norwood

Butterfly Bush.    Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

Butterfly Bush.    Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

Butterfly Bush.    Copyright 2008 Marcia Norwood

Clematis.    Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

Coneflower.  Copyright 2008 Marcia Norwood

Coneflower.  Copyright 2008 Marcia Norwood

Peony.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

Peony.  Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood

Dogwood Tree in Front Yard.   Copyright 2013 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2008  Marcia Norwood

      
Copyright 2013  Marcia Norwood


Copyright 2013  Marcia Norwood
  
 
Copyright 2013  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2013  Marcia Norwood


Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

   
Copyright 2014  Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2013  Marcia Norwood



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