First In Everything Poem by Tony Adah

Old soldier fought wars
In Rangoon and in Burma
He was first from his enclave
To have joined the army
And fought far and wide,
He told tales
How the white man touched his skin
To see if he rubbed a cream
Of charcoal on it.

Old soldier
Spoke Italian, German and Spanish
He was first to do this
He made his folks to see steel helmet
Rugged boots and his petty loots
From the war-
Jagged knife, steel jerrycan
Steel cups, caps and hats.

The glossary of his deeds
Was mighty and long
He was first to buy a bicycle
During which cannons boomed
In his serene village
Old soldier was first in everything.