Odd Fellow Poem by James Walter Orr

I knew a man, not face to face,
But by his reputation.
He used to come into this town
By way of central station.

He wore a turban on his head;
They said, to draw attention.
I know I always used to think
His mind was in suspension.

How strange it is to be involved,
And form a mental photo,
With full assurance in one’s mind
One knows a man in toto.

I met him in the grocery line;
He really seemed quite normal.
The only thing the least bit strange:
His speech was rather formal.

It came out later, in the news,
The essence of the matter:
The tale consisted from the first
Of silly, idle chatter.

We later found he came to town,
To learn our native dances.
He must have thought us strange indeed,
With all our sideways glances.