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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ODD (02/20/20)
I saw an odd man the other day
Who didn't act in a usual way.
He was in a restaurant at a busy time
But his manners were certainly unrefined.
Most tables were crowded when I heard him say
“Let's all bow our heads... I'm going to pray.”
His voice didn't soften as I thought it should.
In fact, it grew louder as he proudly stood.
All heads turned sharply as they looked at the man
So rudely intruding on their dinner plan.

I knew by the look on each diner's face
They saw this man's action as a total disgrace.
But that didn't sway the man... not at all!
He seemed more determined to show us his gall.
“Lord, I know I could whisper this grace
But I think it is good to pray for this place.
Thank you, dear Lord, for this wonderful meal...
I'm sure that's the way all the diners here feel.
If there are those who don't feel that way
I include them as well as I humbly pray.
Lord, you prepared everything we would need
Well in advance so we could now feed.
Thanks for the farmers, and the ranchers too,
That worked such long hours just to give us this food.”

As he spoke these words I looked around.
No one was eating... no one made a sound.
The odd man continued (and his volume increased)
And I noticed the waiters and staff work had ceased.
“Lord,” he continued, “bless those who prepared
Such a fine meal for my loved ones to share.
If anyone hearing my voice doesn't know
The truth of Your goodness then let my words show
A glimmer of reason to reach out to You.
Let them learn, Lord Jesus, what your love can do.
Your love will forgive us from what once we were...
Vile, unforgiving, unthankful, unpure.
So thank you, dear Lord for this simple meal,
You know my heart, you know how I feel.
Let eyes now be opened to the truth that I share...
Your love, precious Jesus, is beyond compare.”

Somehow (I'm not sure when it took place)
Tears started falling from each diner's face.
I reached to my own cheek, it was the same.
My tears were falling from personal shame.
I had been wrong, this man's words cut like a knife.
He seemed to know every need in my life.
I dried my tears and looked at the man
But he wasn't there... I don't understand.
Where once there had been a table and chair
There was only a statue of a man standing there.

I asked the waiter what all of this meant
And he said I was blessed by what had been sent.
The statue, he stated, was his former boss...
He had died years before (what a tragic loss).
He had met Jesus and made Him his Lord
Just hours before death severed his cord.
But now, shared the waiter, some people have told
Of a man at a table with a prayer loud and bold.
“You're lucky,” he told me, “not many believe.
But now that you've heard him...
will you receive?”
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This article has been read 722 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Linda Lawrence 
02/28/20
Oh my goodness! Two powerful, wonderful poems in a row! I guess I can't say I'm not into poetry any more because this is a powerful story that I have no trouble understanding. Love the story! So inspiring!
Barbara Culler 
02/28/20
Wow-this gave me goosebumps!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/28/20
This is a beautiful piece. It evoked a lot of emotion in me. Although I believe endings like this are possible, the mysterious stranger or angel in disguise may become cliché. I almost wish the man had recorded his prayer and had it boom out randomly for the patrons at just the perfect time or that it be a real person with the courage to pray out loud and share his faith with strangers. It would still be an amazing miracle that it be done just when the MC desperately needed to hear and see this witness. I used words like may become and almost wish, because I think you did a good job of pulling it off, but may want to consider something less done in future pieces. I'm not good at poetry, but I thought your words flowed effortlessly and the rhymes felt spot on. did just flow off the page. I can feel your passion and believe you have been gifted to spread the Word. I really liked how you included a prayer too because so many people have no clue how to pray. I noticed a couple tiny typos: missing possessive (staff work instead of staff's work), singular noun with plural pronoun (each diner's, they) and tense shift (don't understand instead of didn't). Of course, I realize with poetry, these rules are more flexible, but I wanted to show spots that made me pause just for a second. I think your take on the topic was brilliant and covered in many ways: odd to pray in public loudly, an odd man, how the prayer made the MC feel odd, as well as the odd ending. That's not always easy to do, but you used the topic masterfully and had a clear Christian message. You grabbed my attention right away and held it to the end. It's a stunning piece and with just a few little tweaks I could see this being published in a magazine or book of poems, used in a play, read at churches, and used for a youth group or a Bible discussion group. You did an outstanding job.
C D Swanson 
02/28/20
Great story!
Blessings~
Rachel Rudd
03/06/20
Congratulations on a well deserved win! This was really captivating!