Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Whate’er I’ve been told of thy wonders is true !
All nature at once seems to rush on my view,
And, lost in the trance you occasion, I cry,
How stupendous the scene ! what an atom am I !
How thy waves, wildly foaming, and hurled around,
Rise in volumes of mist from thy cauldron profound,
And in tears, which thy fury has caused, brightly plays,
The rainbow that dazzles my sight with its blaze !
Like the tyrant of Europe, whose merciless force
Bears down ev’ry mound which opposes his course :
While the halo, whose glory encircles his head,
Is formed by the tears which the wretched have shed.
O who should not rather all glory forego,
Than gain it by battle, and bloodshed and wo !
O who would not rather inhabit the vale,
Than dwell on the Andes, the sport of each gale !
Near Etna I’ve stray’d with impressions most sweet,
Through vineyards that circle with verdure its feet ;
But felt not the least inclination to tread
On the ashes which cover its cloud-piercing head.
And though with sensations I ne’er knew before,
I bend me enraptur’d to list to thy roar,
And, as thy blue streams irresistibly roll,
Feel the awe most sublime which possesses my soul ;
Yet I would not for worlds that my life were like thee !
O far be each thought of such tumult from me !
Far, far be each wish that ambition might form
To delight in the horrour and roar of the storm.
Let me, cool and clear, glide on free from all taint,
Dispensing relief to the weary and faint ;
No torrent that bursts to affright and amaze,
But the smooth, gentle stream, through the valley that strays.
Source: The Port Folio. New Series, vol. 4, no. 1, July 4, 1807
Oliver Oldschool, Esq. was a pseudonym for Joseph Dennie. Read about Dennie
Gotta admit, I don’t really have time to puzzle poetry into meaning when there are so many instant media dopamine hits inundatingly available, and cooking to do.
But hey, it’s Niagara, so I had a quick look.
That first poem by “Oliver Oldschool” is crazy good. You chose so well.
So cool to see what is essentially a FB post in 1807 about Niagara Falls.
Cameras weren’t around in 1807 and didn’t come out for a couple more decades so Oldschool’s words were the photo.
Dude used a quill and ink. Likely had under a 1k distribution (Equivalent to views on social media) after hiring a printing press. (1400s tech, typewriters weren’t around till the 1880s. Oldschool died in 1812.)
The comparison to Etna was cool. That’s the big volcano in Italy, another powerful force of nature, like the Falls, that’s surrounded by vineyards, almost like he foresaw our wine industry or understood latitude and climate.
His work went out on horse and carriage, yet he still used the word Atom. Amazing how mush the scientific definition has been refined since his time, and constantly though my time.
From romantic awe of nature to political undertones (Napoleon), to spiritual reflection and local history, it’s a way better dopamine hit compared to scrolling on a phone for anyone able to spend the time to understand the poem.
I’m very grateful for your website and share. I look forward to sipping it up with my morning coffees until I’ve wrung it dry and it becomes an old favourite to revisit when my memory needs the details refreshed.
Whoever has the attention span and comprehension to read to the end of my wall of text here, will surely appreciate the poem.
❤️
Very appropriate for September 11th. Wonderful couplet.