SOLDIER OF LOVE

CELEBRATING A TAPESTRY OF LIFE

Juanita Book

By Juanita Torrence-Thompson

©Copyright by Juanita Torrence-Thompson


JUANITA TORRENCE-THOMPSON is a poet/writer/speaker whose award-winning work appears in U.S. and Canadian journals and online. See her poetry and book information at: Poetry Town. See Barbara Hantman's review of Torrence-Thompson's CELEBRATING A TAPESTRY OF LIFE (Torderwarz Publishing Company)at: The Pedestal Magazine

SOLDIER OF LOVE

Six days a week he arose at 5 a.m.
Grandma made his breakfast
And he drove to the big estate in his old Ford
He milked the cows
Fed and cared for the horses, goats and sheep
Often mowed acres of rolling property
First on foot, later on a motorized mower

He managed estate affairs
Worked crushing hours
Rarely took vacations
Tolerated his boss's inept, nosy relative
Swallowed his pride and retired
When his boss willed him zilch
He was a soldier of life

First to arrive for church service, meetings,
Fundraisers, and the last to leave
Tithed heavily and gave extra until it hurt.
Was a church trustee and senior deacon for decades
He was a soldier of the Lord

He reserved Sunday afternoons for baseball on TV
And faithfully rooted for the Red Sox
He believed in helping others,
Not speaking ill of anyone, turning the other cheek
And loving people of all races and creeds
A fine family man, dedicated worker
Devout, active parishioner
Grandpa was truly a soldier of love