Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

[Return to Poems and Thoughts index page]

Coming to Terms with Hell. I was six years old and freely moved through my neighborhood. My basic territory was one block long. My address was 301 Lake Avenue, Newton Highlands. Across the street below the opposite houses, ran the old steam engine line-- Later to be converted to cleaner electric MTA street cars! Out of my house and to the right all the way, almost to Walnut Avenue, I met one day a playmate named Sparky. We were on the sidewalk, greeted each other, When suddenly Sparky came out with, "You are going to Hell!" I was young, confused, and didn't know what to do. Well, of course. a six year old goes back to his mother. What was said to reassure me remains in clouded history, But I have somehow survived eight decades! Perhaps Sparky's declaration got me to think-- I heard church bells a year later and asked to attend Sunday School; Went on through high school and early college days, Deeply exploring and partaking in religious thought; But after meeting sophisticated biology and evolutionary theory, I did and have now evolved in philosophy towards a benevolent Humanist-- And unless there is a great change in mindset, I shall meet the next stage of life in mental comfort. Thank you Sparky? Frank Maurer 18 July 2024 2024 Hours.