2009 Poem ‘The stranger’ by Walter Lerchner, U.S.A. from the Book ‘Poems of Love and Seeking’ Pages 31 to 34

Children of one Mother

Listening to the wisdom of old
We feel safe

Playing with each other
in her watchful gaze
We feel safe

Her feet in the corner of our eyes
We feel safe

Climbing on the mountain,
aware of her presence
We feel safe
When the stranger’s voice is whispering
It may sound like fun

The stranger’s gaze is tempting us
May make us feel all grown up
The stranger’s tasks lead to new adventures
May make us feel curious

The voices of wisdom sound so stale
When we start to grow up

The children’s playful gestures seem so boring
When we start to grow up

The Mother’s protective gaze appears so limiting
When we start to grow up
In the strange world
We don’t need our Mother
In the strange world
We are above the others
In the strange world
The stranger’s affection sets us apart

The Mother feels so far
When the confusion sets in

All grown up
The safety of her voice has lost its comfort

And being lost in our greatness loses its fun
When the guilt sets in

Luckily the Mother’s loving hands are never far
When we become small again
Luckily her gaze is still as loving
When we move back into the presence of her being
It may take a little time
But the play of the children will be sweet again