Human Cannonball

Emmanuel Zacchini Senior The Human Cannonball Died in Sarasota Monday Eighty-four was all From Italy in thirty-four John Ringling brought him here A broken neck in fifty-one Ended his career But in those years in between Seventeen in all Few flew as fast or as far As the Cannonball Fifty-eight yards and one foot Was the distance that he went Fifty-four miles in an hour The speed that he was sent Two of his brothers and two daughters Nine grandchildren in all And the one great-grandchild Survive the Cannonball He died on Monday where he lived It happens to us all Shot through the air expecting nets A flight and then a fall Emmanuel Zacchini Senior The Human Cannonball