STRONG MAN OF CONEY ISLAND

He was one of the last
of the strong men of Coney Island,
and one of the best.
He called himself Great,
and others did too,
could lift 650 pounds with his finger,
could bend quarters with his teeth.
He stood five feet five,
walked five miles a day rain or shine,
had five lucky charms
tied around his waist.

At age 104,
while crossing an overpass in Brooklyn,
he was struck down
by a minivan he didn’t see.
It came to rest upon him
and couldn’t be lifted
by even the strongest pedestrian.