Tristan Robert Lange

The Stranger\'s Truth

In a world harboring hate—

In a world lost from love—

I know who

I am.

Do you?

No, of course,

You don’t know me—

You are not me—

But, honestly,

Do you know yourself—

Truly, deeply, immeasurably—

Or are you a stranger?

Strangers are welcome here.

Together strangers become stronger,

More visible—

Less strange.

We are all strangers from others—

Until we are not—

But we must be strange

Even to ourselves?

No. We must not.

I am not.

I will not be

That which I am not.

Truth:

A stranger can know far more

About themselves

By at least knowing what they are not,

If not knowing

Who they are.

In fact,

I have discovered myself—

Me—

Through knowing what and who

I am not.

I am not hate.

I am not apathy.
I am not owned by any noun,

Pro or otherwise, including me.

I am not defined by labels.

I am who I am.

I will be who I am.

I will be what I will be.

My faith, my love,

Strong below as above

Are all that define me.

© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.