Last man standing

I sent 50 invitations to 50 different people
people who I love, friends and family
I asked them to meet me on a Friday afternoon
at my favorite park, under my favorite tree

The heading of the letter read "If things get tough
how many of you would truly be there for me?"
On the day of the meeting, 47 showed up
and already I knew I was abandoned by 3


As I glanced at my loved ones underneath the tree
I looked each and every one eye to eye
and I read the first question that I wrote on a list
"How many of you would leave me if I told you a lie?"

For a not-so-brief period there was an awkward silence
and I watched a plane as it raced across the sky
By the time that airplane had flown out of sight
9 from my group had said goodbye


I started second-guessing as I went back to my list
but I knew this was something that I had to do
I had to find out, I had to have no doubt
out of all of these people, whose love was true

I took a moment and then I read the next question
"Who would stay if I stole from you?"
I knew this one was tough, but I wasn't prepared
when 16 walked and I was down to 22


As the questions grew harder and my group got smaller
I knew right there and I knew right then
that for the right reason they were all going to leave
I didn't know who for what and I didn't know when

but I knew I'd find out as I presented more questions
to these 22 children, women and men
"If I betrayed you right now, who of you would leave?"
Just over half, and all that stood were 10


These were the ten who I could count on the most
The ten that I thought would surely never run
and as I looked out across my suddenly small circle
I saw those who truly who loved me, right from day one

I saw my mom, standing tall, holding hands with my brothers
and all of my kids, down to my youngest son
Then I noticed a man who I didn't quite know
as I reached down in my bag and pulled out a gun


I held the gun up over my head
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" I fired three in the air
then I watched the confusion run through my family
and I cried as I watched them scatter everywhere

My mom screamed for my brothers to gather up the kids
and I'll never forget each tear-filled stare
as they, too, left because we all have our limits
and all that remained was one man standing there


He didn't seem nervous and he didn't seem scared
he just reached in his bag and pulled out some bread
I screamed "Are you crazy?! Don't you see this gun?"
Then I aimed the barrel straight at his head

I was full of anger that this stranger was the last man standing
when everyone else had already fled
and just at that moment I viewed my entire life
inside a single teardrop that he shed


I didn't know who he was or how he got invited
so I yelled "Who are you, and why didn't you leave me, too?"
and he just stood there in the park as it started getting dark
and the words that I screamed it seemed weren't getting through

Then he slowly put away his bread and he opened up his arms
and I walked up to this man that I didn't think I knew
He said "I am your Father, your Savior, your Lord
and this love is unconditional, this love I have for you."


He put his arm around my shoulder and offered me these words
"There is nothing you can do, my son, that would make me walk away
and out of all the times you've left me, I've always kept you close
because my love is absolute, it knows no other way

My love serves two purposes, it exists for two reasons
to love you, of course, and to save you today
Now sit with me, Michael, just for a moment..."
and he bowed his head and he began to pray


I knew right then, as my anger disappeared
that this man lost in prayer, lost in concentration
was more than a man who didn't leave me this day
he was a man of truth, a man of true dedication

and I knew he'd never leave, as he whispered his prayers
"...trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation...."
He was the only one that stayed, the only one that prayed
He was my light, my life...my true salvation

This poem won first place for the September 2014 poetry contest