2012-1129 Poem ‘Indians and Pilgrims’ by Walter Lerchner, U.S.A.

Indians and Pilgrims met for the first Thanksgiving
The Pilgrims thankful for the techniques they learned
The Indians first full of joy believing they can share

Share their knowledge, share their stories
Share their love for Mother Earth
Who had blessed them plentifully
In response to love

How could they know that the pilgrims were satisfied
with only the techniques, not able to understand the subtlety?

Were satisfied to exchange niceties and stories of their heroic journeys
In response to stories of humble truths wrapped in mythology
In response to practices of worship, which to the pilgrims
seemed strange and godless

How could the Indians know that they would catch sickness and frustration?
That their seeds of knowledge would fall on poisoned ground?
Their innocence was taken for naivety?

Oh Mother, please forgive us
Pilgrims and immigrants
to this country of Kubera and Virat
Whom you yourself now came to teach

Please allow us to truly listen to your stories
Let us learn the methods of planting seeds
Let us understand the message of love
And do not let us fall into the trap
of only learning the techniques

Give us the ability to first please you
By asking the question:
"What would our Mother want us to do?"