Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Treichel "Ich möchte mit euch treicheln." Perhaps bad German, but the intention is there. "I wish with you (plural) to 'treichel' (march together ringing cowbells)." This act is done on New Years to cleanse all the village houses. Ghosts of Swiss villages are purged from human habitations-- The huge cowbells are rung steadily--once--as each leg steps And the smaller ones are rhythmically shaken to fill the bass of the lower. At 19 years, teaching in the Alps of Switzerland, I was asked (honorably) to join the men. After showing me the method to work a large bell, I marched off to cleanse, into the darkened village, with the others. Frank Maurer 25 December 2022 1240 PM