Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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The Hunter-Gathers. In former days, our hunter-gatherer ancestors moved At the 'whim' or general greater movement of the herds. Sometimes it was feast and other times famine. So the modern, unthinking person might thus conclude. There is, still, a quiet factor which repeats history. That factor is our surrounding virus and bacteria. Contemplate the rise of here-to-fore virus outbreaks And how we mobilize to cope with whatever. Our 'herds' today are populations of pigs, cows, chickens, and bees. When they die or must be hygienically slaughtered, We, as in ancient times, must cope with diminishing food sources. Unlike our ancestors, there are times when the change Also affects us directly, needing medical aid. We must not only mobilize to cope with reduced resources, But must even protect ourselves from that which ravages our food source. It seems that things are different, but really much the same. So is the cycle of life--the 'hunter' and the 'hunted', Ensuring that the flow of energy will necessarily continue to obtain. Frank Maurer 6 February 2025 0940 Hours.