Oddfellow Poem by Christopher Howie

Oswald Oddfellow was an odd fellow,
Building bridges, surely a strong fellow.
Greeting his boss, truly a kind fellow.
To all his friends, he was a fine fellow.

Perhaps not sharp of wit was he,
Nor mighty mentally was he.
Flights of fancy were not his forte.
On tests of mind, he would fall short,

But if you ever sought a mate,
This odd Oddfellow was just great.

In life, though, all is not it seems.
What we wish to be in our dreams
Will not always match what is real.
The strife of Longfellow's hard life
Was taken out on his poor wife.
His child, his pride and joy alone
Was spared not the wrath of his stone.

Until one day, he, his poor wife and lost son
Were found hanging, their lives surely outrun.
On seeing the fate of their Oddfellow,
All declared, ‘He was quite an odd fellow'.