Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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The Deafening Silence of Quiet Snowfall. My son just sent me a few-second video from the mountains, Where he is introducing my grandson to the snow! The video was dark, but depicted the soft-falling flakes in the limited light. I suddenly remembered my first skiing attempts On our neighbor's Massachusetts backyard slopes. I then remembered my trips with my two boys--separately-- Because of their different ages, To the ski slopes of our neighboring Rockies in eastern California. Thereafter, my thoughts went further back to my student days, Where I taught as a teaching job in the Alps of Switzerland. The school, The Ecole D'Humanite, was in Goldern, above Meiringen, Above which was the Rosenlaui Gletcher (Glacier), Where Sherlock Holmes was 'first murdered'. One day it was announced the school would all use the Gondalbahn, To be transported to the actual 'Alp', the highest elevation of the mountain. From there, we would ski down, ending up in the school yard ! I remember it was overcast and gently snowing. The powder was so very soft and glass-like. Descending on the slope was effortless--almost as if one were levitating! Stopping now and then--there was no speed competition-- I listened to the absolute silence of the falling flakes, As they gently accumulated around me, muffled in their fall. It was a chilling experience of so much surrounding activity, Accompanied with absolutely no sound. My Heart shudders at 82, 60 years later, From having had the privilege of partaking In such an incredible human experience with our beautiful Nature. (Sadly, with the Climate Crisis, many areas of our planet Will no longer have skiing, let alone even snow!) Frank Maurer 23 March 2024 1350 Hours.