Magnifique!

craaig

Posted: Aug 21, 2008

Gerald Lebel, you have utterly out done yoruself.

Craaig has said it in one word 'Magnifique' ^_^

Thanks for this Jerry, truly, ~katie

Posted: Aug 21, 2008

Great work on this.It makes me think that the stranger was really an angel taking him home.I really enjoyed this one.Keep up the great work.

Posted: Aug 21, 2008

I agree, this is quite different than your other work. Awesome Jerry Awesome!

Posted: Aug 21, 2008

Oh GOD, that STRANGER was GOD with the ailing soul...it is so difficult to comprehend the pain of someone going through Chemotherapy sessions...
AND FOR SURE GOD WOULD NEVER NEVER LEAVE THE PERSON...WHO IS SUFFERING....and suddenly i also felt the presence of GOD near me, Jerry....believe me i am getting goose bumps after reading this poem...
after this strange state of mind of mine for such a long time...i feel FREE to read this poem...I think I still need more time to think straight....

Posted: Aug 21, 2008

This is one of your most magnificent pieces Jerry....a classic.

Posted: Aug 21, 2008

Like the other readers i think this is truly awesome, an eloquent masterpiece written by the crafted hand and genius of mind.
I wonder if we take our memories with us when we eventually transfer to the spirit world it would be some light show if we could.

You use words i could only dream of and my dictionary does not display.10/10 BD

Posted: Aug 22, 2008

ya touche to bufferdude, it's really a masterpiece... nicely chosen words, and full of beauty.. my goodness, you are great!!

Posted: Aug 22, 2008

Wow Jerry. I can see a lot of darkness in this one and that is such a good thing. Like BD said, the wording here is awesome. Jerry, I always knew you had talent, but wow...This blew my mind. Take care, Regan

Posted: Aug 22, 2008

very vivd and profounnd! I liked it!!! well done Jerry!

Posted: Aug 22, 2008

I'm at a loss for words, and I'm not just saying that because it was brilliant; I'm saying it because you already said everything that needed to be said in this poem. I loved it! :)

Posted: Aug 22, 2008

Very moving Jerry, it brought many things to mind, just as it was meant to.

Susan

Posted: Aug 22, 2008

For me, it has to be one of your best pieces. Really moving and touching.

Posted: Aug 22, 2008

It is a joy to read this masterpiece once again. But my friend I "suspect" that it is a real life incident.

I am sure that An Angel came from heavens to comfort you, to whisper words of love and inspiration in your ear, to strengthen you to endure and emerge victorious.

Excellent poem!!!

Posted: Aug 23, 2008

Jerry how wonderful, warming and sad too, to think of the illness that created the chance meeting. Unwittingly we entertain strangers so often in our lives. Today I was viewing an apartment with my son - he wants to invest perhaps? We were 44 floors up and it was all glassed to the floor. The real estate agent noticed me step back from the windows 'You're afraid of heights' she noted 'you're so cute, stepping back like that' - again, a brief encounter, stranger entertainment!! Lovely as always!

Posted: Aug 23, 2008

Jerry - I read this the first time late Thursday night and went to bed with its images in my head. I needed that because I don't think I could have done it justice then. I'm not sure I can now, but I have to try.

Written from the viewpoint of one suffering immeasurably, it held for me a quiet desperation. The descriptions were so exquisitely written that in those moments of awareness, the comfort of the "stranger" was palpable. For a moment there was, if not relief, rest and safety and maybe a measure of peace.

I have never been where this precious soul was, but I have witnessed it and while I can never fully know what that suffering was like, I can now take great comfort in knowing that there were moments when "someone" offered moments of respite and peace. And perhaps the knowledge that "when I open my eyes, they'll be there."

Thank you for that. ~ Sheryl

Posted: Aug 23, 2008

That is one of my favorite Bible verses. I find it to be comforting. This poem relays hope and inspiration, despite the frailty of mankind. Thank you for sharing a path within your journey of life.

Posted: Aug 23, 2008

Jerry, this poem truly touches me in a mighty way. I actually knew from the title I was going to like it but I had no idea how profoundly it would effect me. It takes me back to the day I met a man who I hadn't seen in my neighborhood before. I spotted him about a half a block away. He turned in my direction and our eyes were locked. Even though I wanted to run I couldn't move, it was as if I was in a trance. That day was a day I would never forget because he told me things about my life no one knew and I had never told a soul. Before he left he told me to recite the 23rd psalms 10 times a day, and he said everything was going to be alright. As mysteriously as he came he was gone and believe it or not it wasn't long before things in my life turned around.

Posted: Aug 24, 2008

This has to be one of your best Jerry, well done!

Posted: Aug 24, 2008

I am absolutely speechless.

This is one of my favorites of yours, Jerry.

You are so passionate, your words speak volumes, your works speak for themselves. The stranger, I believe, may be an angel of sorts. But then, I think we're all angels on this earth, always watching, always there for others.

MA

Posted: Aug 26, 2008

Very powerful poem Jerry. I think you were inspired by your own personal experiences when you wrote this.

I hope to see that book of your poetry some day soon. I am sure it would sell a lot of copies. You are a very gifted writer and a great friend.

God bless and keep writing from your soul.

Roy

Posted: Aug 26, 2008

Hi Jerry. The interesting thing for me here is that the 'stranger' does not take the character away from reality, but rather, gives them strength to face it.
A moving study of grace in times of need. Ricky.

Posted: Aug 28, 2008

Another astounding work, Jerry.

Alek Azrael

Posted: Sep 2, 2008

Truly enjoyed the stanza with the counting the IV bags and chemo sessions. Stark reality combined nicely with the peaceful imagery surrounding it.

My curiosity is piqued. I'll be reading more.

Posted: Sep 3, 2008

Hello Jerry, to think that I missed this beauty for so many days... Life was too hectic for me around the time when you had posted this poem, and I could never get around to reading it. Today I saw your comment on Anna's poem and I realized I had missed reading your latest. Hence I am here, and I'm breathless.... looks like everything that can be said in praise of this poem has already been said by everyone else. What more can I say, except that I was really moved by it! When are you posting again?

Posted: Sep 4, 2008

So nice to hear from you Urja! Thank you for your kind words of praise and I am happy that you were moved by my poem. Thanks for letting me know how much you enjoyed it. I'm taking a little breather at the moment and catching up on my reading. I have two short stories in the works so I'll get back to writing soon.

Happy days... many blessings............Jerry

Posted: Sep 4, 2008

I must say, that poem is one, if not The best one, of your works. Especially fitting at this time in my life, with the passing of my mother. Thank You for sharing it with us.

Hope all is well,

Ted

Posted: Sep 4, 2008

Jerry; what a powerfull write, fantastic and discriptive bravo! keep safe keep well Juliet x

Posted: Sep 6, 2008

Glad to see this on the home page to enable a few more well deserved reads.

Posted: Sep 10, 2008

Beautiful Jerry, absolutly wonderful! =) I loved this, and right now, I really needed something like this to lift my spirits! Thank you for writing such a wonderful piece, and for allowing us to read it. =)
~Mandy

Posted: Sep 11, 2008

wow I think you did the nearly impossible
you touched my heart
that was very beautiful and heart warming
I really loved reading it

Posted: Sep 11, 2008

Thanks for the welcome note.
When I clicked on the yellow mustache which led me to
"Entertaining Strangers" I was surprised to find this
perfectly written, delicate, intricate poem. It leaves
the reader with a feeling of warmth and hope. Poetry
is a feeling for me, not an understanding. This, in my view is a "Feel good" piece of work. I loved it. Will
read your other work soon. Thanks for the poem.
Kindest Regards.

Posted: Sep 12, 2008

Dear Brother,
Very profound and moving.

Posted: Sep 23, 2008

I'm so sorry It's taken me soooo long to get back to you! your absoultly one of my favorite poets here on bookise and this is...I'm nearly at a loss for words....
I remember that that verse from the bible. It's one of my grandma's favorites. :) She's very religous. It's kind of ironic, she was watching a minster on the TV a few sundays ago and he told a joke about that one...She told me in return. Um I think it goes like this:
The minster was going door to door talking to people about attending one of his up comming services and when he reached the last door on the block, no one answered. So he wrote a note about the service and quoted this verse.....The man showed up to the service and before it started appologized to the minster for not answering...He just couldn't because he was in the shower. he he.....
Anyways I really liked this. It's a really nice piece and I'd have to say one of my favorites! I'm in love with the imagery yo use...So...Indescrible. :)
Thank you for the heads up. I can't say i regreted reading this.

Posted: Sep 24, 2008

i perceived this more of a story then a poem, but i got to say, the emotion going so it, it felt personal, my head wondered and then came to peace upon the end of the piece. Bonus points for being strong and turning to God at times of perils
brilliant heartfelt piece

Posted: Sep 26, 2008

Make me cry... thanx.. :p This poem is amazing. And you can definately tell it has deep meaning for you because it is something true and very heartfelt. This poem really means a lot to me as I lost my 10 yr. old sister a little over a year ago to cancer. She had it since 2 and a half years old so you can just imagine how much she has been through. Please read my relay for speech writing. And you will get a major idea. I would be very grateful. This is amazing. This is kinda like a story as other people have said. Because its like your taking us through someones life. I felt as if I was looking through that guys eyes at that person. Imagining everything. It had PERFECT imagery. Seriously, this is the first poem that truly did that and I give you a tremendous amount of props. Thankyou for writing this. It means a lot. I am thankful that I got to read this. Keep writing!! And take care!!
~Love~
Cassie

Posted: Sep 28, 2008

Very very powerful, wonderful and amazing. I cant describe it. You did a wonderful inspiring job!@!!

Posted: Oct 6, 2008

Masterful....

You really captured the sense and emotion of being in the grace of an angel no less. You captured the pain through to the relief, release and rapture. Fantastic.

I loved it. (clicked the I like on this too)

Posted: Nov 30, 2008