Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Must There Always be Perpetual War? I was born in 1941 and was old enough To comprehend the meaning in 1945, As to why the neighbor children were banging pots with joy! Then came the Korean War, I listening to PBS at 12, And the horrible situation which eventually divided Korea. Once again later, another conflict in Vietnam To block a possible 'domino effect', Resulting yet again, in a divided nation. So many further wars throughout Africa, Where I taught for many years. Now we witness the basic genocide By the Russians and Israelis, Pulverizing their hapless opponents, Completely outnumbered and outgunned. One claims historic ownership, voicing the desire To reunite the old Union, The other claims revenge, even though they originally invaded, Reclaiming land, historically, after a 2000 year hiatus. Is there no way we all can just view, from a spatial distance, And realize how very unique our planet actually is-- From space we see no borders, nor politics, nor religions? We must somehow, sometime soon, learn how to live together As one species, ensuring life also for our fellow creatures And not be divided by our cultural foibles and impediments. Frank Maurer 6 December 2023 0950 Hours,