Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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To No One. In my youth you taught me your strong ways. I was tolerant and interested and did not repel you. You made it clear when showing me your dishware-- If I were to come and share repast, I would be forbidden to use that dishware. That was my introduction to your eating laws. Later and older, I was talking with a female teen, Who was plain to view, but nicely intelligent. Her mother entered and cleared out all but me And announced that my ancestors had destroyed Jerusalem And I was never to become close to her daughter. I was shocked, but innocently agreed with what, I was not certain. Attempting dating, I was snubbed once by other parents When I arrived to pick up their daughter for a dance. At my fiftieth reunion I heard the same story from a fellow male student. (I donated my hand carved stone for the new high school building!)) Much later in my seventies I returned from far away To the general territory and people with whom I grew up. I was kindly invited to the home of a now fellow elder. They kept the laws to which I was introduced so long ago. When we took repast, I found I was eating off a paper plate! This to me was another blow going way back to that girl's mother. Now I watch and have watched since 1948, The constant battles and the taking of territory With that reinvasion, 2000 years later. Yes, there have been great injustices, But is all this worth it to either side and to their innocent children Who know nothing of this history and are just taught to suffer and hate? Guilt is very powerful and sometimes can be misled To an erroneous and painful conclusion. Frank Maurer 21 September 2024 0410 Hours.