An Old Soldier Poem by Walterrean Salley

Shuffling down the street an ol' soldier
Slowly shifting as she went along
Pushing a grocery cart of whatever.
For me she seems an ol' warrior "song."

I remember her from long ago
Oh, I was just a wee little child
And she, one of the neighborhood mothers
Who would gladly foot the extra mile.

A friend to, both, the young and old,
Whose heap-up honors ‘pon her to confer.
Strong and solid, the folks all love her.
A hard-working senior, all would concur

Seems as if she'd live forever
Perusing the neighborhood like a cop.
Riding the mower, gathering pecans;
Almost ninety, and yet to stop.