FINNEGAN'S AIRPLANE

by David G Dickenson

NOW DANIEL FINNEGAN'S AIRPLANE WAS A CAPTIVATING SIGHT
IT WAS BUILT IN 1922 IN TWO DAYS AND ONE NIGHT
IT HAD ONE WING ,THE WHEELS WERE SQUARE AND PAINTED ALL BY HAND
AND RAN OFF GUINNESS AND CIDER AND A RED ELASTIC BAND.

IT FLEW FROM BANGOR TO ENNISKILL, FOR THE PRICE OF ONE POUND TEN
AND FOR AN EXTRA ONE AND SIX YOU COULD DO IT ALL AGAIN
IT TOOK THREE DAYS TO GET THERE, NON-STOP IN RAIN OR SHINE
AND WHEN YOU LANDED WITH A BUMP IT WAS ALWAYS HALF-PAST NINE.

ONE SUNDAY AFTER COMMUNION THE VICAR TOOK A DARE
WENT UP IN THE AIR WITH FINNEGAN, EYES SHUT, IN CONSTANT PRAYER
AEROBATICS IS MY CHOICE TODAY, TO FINNEGAN WITH A STARE
BEFORE HE'D GOT THE WORDS OUT, THE PLANE WAS EVERYWHERE.

THEN HALFWAY THROUGH A BARREL ROLL THE VICAR WENT ALL RED
HIS DOG-COLLAR MUST BE WAY TO TIGHT, THOUGHT FNNEGAN , HE MUST BE DEAD
BE JABER'S GOD DONT LET THIS BE I'LL FLY MORE RESOLUTE
WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A FLASH OF LIGHT BROUGHT THE VICAR'S PARACHUTE.

SO IF YOU GO ON HOLIDAY WITH FINNEGAN ON THE WING
BE SURE TO TIE YOUR LUGGAGE ON WITH MASKIN TAPE AND STRING
COS' WHEN YOU GET TO DUBLIN OR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
YOU MIGHT BE SPENDING 14 DAYS IN YOUR CLOTHES AND UNDERWEAR.

MAY LOVE AND LAUGHTER LIGHT YOUR DAYS AND WARM YOUR HEART AND HOME
SURE TO TAKE A TRAN NEXT TIME WHEREVER YOU MAY ROAM
BUT THINK OF FINNEGAN'S AIRLINES WERE CHEAP BEYOND COMPARE
HIS PLANE NOW STANDS OUTSIDE THE PUB CALLED FINNEGAN'S WING AND A PRAYER.