Three poems by Frank William Finney

by Frank William Finney

A Mist Off Pirates’ Cove

Pigeons peck pizza

from paper plates

the way the beachbums

used to do

on their way

to the rides

between beach

and Bowery

while the sand was sparkling

with the waves

and the scent of fried

onion rings

held our noses

hostage.

Candid Condor

Fumes still rise

from that old nest

though now the fledglings

smell no swill.

The buzzard preens

from flight to flight

and stalks the brood’s

belated breath.

A lingering fear

to moult a death

before flies

crawl upon his eyes.

Sibling Song

One summer day

when we were quite young,

my brother let loose the rope

of my little boat

and sent me drifting

past the dock

towards the middle

of the pond

while the elders

shouted from the beach

as he shaded his eyes

and grinned with glee.

I can’t remember

who it was

who pulled me back

to safety on shore

where Chuckie stood chuckling

and clutching my towel.