winter king
The Winter King makes splendent gems, to deck Niagara‘s
‡‡‡‡rugged shore.
At night he deftly strings them there, then adds in daylight to
‡‡‡‡his store;
He captures snow, the pearly spray, and weaves them into
‡‡‡‡patterns rare;
The water‘s edge, the banks so steep he wraps in frosted
‡‡‡‡garments fair.
With filmy lace in clinging grace, the little shrubs are sweetly
‡‡‡‡gowned.
All crusted o‘er with diamonds bright, they trail on snowy
‡‡‡‡coated ground.
The trees of pine in glory shine, their branches bending
‡‡‡‡very low,
Laden down and drooping ‘neath the crystallized and
‡‡‡‡gleaming snow.
Below the Falls an ice mound glints — by old King Winter‘s
‡‡‡‡breath ‘twas formed;
The amethystine water‘s edge with great ice hummocks
‡‡‡‡is adorned,
From shore to shore‘s a bridge of ice, as marvellous as
‡‡‡‡artist‘s dream.
While underneath imprisoned is the sobbing, surging
‡‡‡‡stream.
O fairyland of ice and snow, mysterious is your allure! —
A picture chaste and beautiful and symbolizing all
‡‡‡‡things pure.
Source: Caroline Eleanor Wilkinson. Poems that Appeal. Niagara Falls, Ont. : F. H. Leslie, Limited, Printers, 1928