It strikes you in odd places,
And at unexpected times.
Engulfs you like a tidal wave
As heartache’s redefined.
It's bound to knock you over,
And it's sure to grind you down.
It strikes you in odd places,
It feels like you may drown.
So take shelter where you find it;
Seek refuge while you may.
(Perhaps your mind designed it,
While your heart went its own way.)
Stand strong against the onslaught,
And the swings from pole to pole.
It strikes you in odd places,
at the center of your soul.
I have a feeling you are the Bill Ferro I knew as a child, on Branch Drive in Silver Spring, MD--brother of my close friend, then, Susan Ferro. Am I right? If so, please say hello!
ReplyDeleteI see here you haven't replied yet. That is OK. I will leave you my email: livingdove@gmail.com. I realize we haven't seen each other in a very long time. How are you and Susan doing? I am doing OK. I wanted to say sorry to Susan for hurting her so long ago, but I cannot find her on the web anywhere. From my recollection, she may have a married name, but I forget what it is. I have looked a bit at your blog and Facebook page, and I think we have some things in common. I am a student of Thich Nhat Hanh's, and I have been to Plum Village twice--though long ago. Currently, students of his in Northern California, where I now live, are hoping to create a lay practice center in Ukiah, at a former alternative school called Mariposa. I have so much to tell you and Susan, if you will let me. Something tells me I am not wrong in presuming you are the right Bill Ferro. Am I right? Love, Vivian :)
ReplyDeleteWow...haven't checked in here in forever...how you doing, Vivian?! Yup, that's me alright.
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ReplyDeleteBy the way, don't know if you know, but Andy Fellows became mayor of College Park, MD, for 3 terms, starting in late 2009. He'd been City Council member before then. I'm pretty proud of his accomplishments. So tell me about yourself. Where do you live now?
ReplyDeletePS My email again is Livingdove@gmail.com. I don't know if Susan wants to hear from me, but I would like to make amends to her, if nothing else. Love, Vivian
ReplyDeleteDear Bill, I am copying a comment I made earlier, which I then deleted the original one of. If you want you can email me, and I will tell you why. I am so glad I found you! Sorry it took me so long to check this site to see if you answered. I like this poem, by the way. It "speaks to me," since a dear friend killed himself last month. Please tell Susan I say hello, and I would like to be in touch, if she wants. Love, Vivian :)
ReplyDeletePPS I think it is so ironic that we have so much in common, though we have not seen each other for decades. For instance, you like Thich Nhat Hanh, too. I can tell by your writing--and the link for Plum Village at the side. I am actually aspiring to be in his Order of Interbeing. As I wrote before, friends of mine have already begun to start a lay practice center at a place called the Mariposa Institute in Ukiah, CA, about 100 miles north of where I live. I am considering moving closer to it, to commute and practice there, but I am not ready for that. They just started a daily practice schedule there. In the meantime, I go to several local sanghas and days of mindfulness. I am also on the Care-Taking Council for the Sugarplum Sangha, at Mariposa. We are having a retreat this weekend, in fact. Presently, we retreat about a weekend a month there, and I have been to most of those. We did the 21-day retreat in conjunction with Plum Village this summer there, too. And I voted for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primaries, too. Small world. I do hope you remain in touch. If you email me, I will get the message quicker, as I had not checked this site in months.
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