Today my children are coming to visit
they love me very much
But they're so worried about me,
they say
that I need a hand-rail in the corridor
and a phone in the kitchen.
That someone should come to help me when I take a bath.
They don't like me being on my own.
Help me be grateful
for their concern,
and help them understand
that I must look after myself
as long as I'm able.
They're right when they say
there are so many risks.
I might fall
I might forget to switch the oven off
But there's no challenge, there's no
winning chance,
no real life - without risk.
When they were small and climbed up trees
and went on bikes -
I was terrified. But I let them.
Stopping them doing those things
would have meant doing them harm.
Now the roles have changed.
Help them understand.
Don't let me get difficult and stubborn.
But help me give them no chance
to stifle me with their concern.

All the good things in life
are free
Air, water, love
How can we even think
that life is dear
when the most important things are free
It's down to an untimely withering.
Only as children did we appreciate
Air for its value
and water as a gift of life
and love, free,
we accepted with a light heart

Only seldom do we breathe properly
and take time together in the open air
we live in haste and for the big things
and drink wine instead of water
and make of love
a duty and a pressure

And life becomes dear
for those who consider it
too little.

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