The Stranger by Rasha Faye Tulas

---

It was mid-afternoon that day,

Inside his cave the leper lay,

And on his face it was dismay

For he could not go out and stray.

He heard the soft advance of feet,

He did not dare look up nor speak,

“My child”, the voice was soft and clear

Yet the leper did not even stir.

The poor man couldn’t help himself,

He just had to stop his pretense,

He lifted up his face and beheld

The stranger whom his heart he held.

Bound by light and bound by love,

Infinite kindness his soft eyes have,

“Come to me”, the stranger said,

Full of kindness, full of grace.

The leper’s knees fell to the ground

As he bowed down without a sound,

He took the stranger in his heart

And left the shadows, eager to part.

The leper looked up into his gaze

As blessed tears streamed down his face,

Now he knew he had left the darkness

With the stranger who showed him kindness.