Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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To See or To Hear; And Then There is Walking. Many millennia ago humans evolved to be upright, Changing the whole orientation of the body; Thus creating a new dimension and meaning of the verb 'to walk'. My whole life has been one of walking-- Moving quickly from room to room, or from farm field to field. My childhood continually involved exploring places by foot. All my field work for the doctorate included miles of walking, Checking and attending trap lines, While studying Microtus pennsylvanicus (voles!). As a youngster, I pondered many hypotheticals-- Losing my eyesight vs my hearing often came across my mind. I even considered at one point, learning Braille and working with the blind. Now that I am almost 84, something else has come to the fore; Namely, my ability to walk, as I always have--quickly and efficiently. After a hip replacement, 'installed' slightly 'inwardly', And the aging factor of just plain slowly wearing out, I now walk with some difficulty, always observing for possible obstacles. Falling is now foremost in my thoughts-- Continually attempting to avoid any cryptic catastrophe; There is also some minor pain, adding to the mix. So, so much for pondering on 'whether sight or whether sound'. Life plays tricks on one and, that which seemed paramount, Turns onto another unconsidered malady! Frank Maurer 27 May 2025 1310 Hours.