Edgar Parrott lost four fingers <br />on his left hand, <br />his left ear and left eye <br />when a pack of firecrackers <br />unexpectedly exploded <br />in his face at the age of ten. <br />Soon he became prey <br />to all the bullies in the neighborhood. <br />Father Flynn protected him. <br />Sadly, he was also <br />a devotee of young boys. <br />For two years Edgar was subject <br />to his whims. <br />Then he told his parents. <br />Father Flynn denied all, <br />declaring Edgar to be delusional. <br />They believed the beloved Priest <br />rather than their son. <br />Edgar lost faith in the Catholic Church, <br />and also his parents. <br />He withdrew into himself, <br />unable to resolve the events <br />which had befallen him. <br />At the age of thirteen he stopped speaking. <br />At the age of twenty his parents put him away. <br />While at Southbeach Mental Hospital <br />he began to converse with Jesus. <br />He said these conversations <br />gave him solace. <br />He forgave Father Flynn <br />and resolved to become a Priest. <br />When he tried to enter the Seminary <br />he was rejected as “unstable.” <br />After that he enrolled in CCNY, <br />studied assiduously, achieved his degree, <br />then began teaching English at Spinoza HS. <br />During the twelve years he taught <br />he went through being <br />a Mormon, a Baptist, <br />an Orthodox Jew, Hinduism, Scientology, <br />and now <br />he was a participant <br />in our Zen Buddhist group, <br />The Coney Island Sangha. <br />Since my beloved teacher <br />Kogaku Roshi <br />had said time and time again, <br />“All welcome” <br />We welcomed him.<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-true-child-of-the-buddha-in-brooklyn-2/
