by Dan Campion

“Ugo Sansonetti . . . began running track in his 70s . . .”
—Obituary in The New York Times

I sing in praise of Ugo,
Who ran to championships
When most of us meet Pluto
Or need replacement hips.

He lived to be one hundred,
Won more than forty gold.
Sure, youthful footfalls thundered.
But Ugo’s rolled and rolled.