Farewell to Niagara by O. P.

Niagara, farewell ! I have lingered with pleasure
    Beside the white spray of thy glittering wave,
I have heard the wild notes of the fisherman’s measure,
    And wandered, at eve, by the lone Indian grave.
‘Twill be long ere I visit thy loved scenes, enchanted,
    And listen again to the wild torrent’s note,
Ere I stray by the ruins tradition has haunted,
    Or hear musick’s strain o’er the cataract float.
Farewell to Niagara ! when far from its waters
    I still shall remember the pleasant scenes past,
When the roseate smiles of Colombia’s daughters
    Gave wings to the moments that hastened so fast.
I love thee when red with the beams of the morning,
    I love thee when sparkling beneath the bright star ;
Thy voice in its thunder, so solemn and warning,
    I’ll treasure in mem’ry when distant afar.
Farewell to Niagara ! its beauty and grandeur,
    Its silver streams gushing beneath the bright moon,
All now are before me, enchanting in splendour,
    They’ll fade from my glances, reluctant, too soon.
I love thee in every form thou present’st me,
    In calm, and when wild tempests o’er thee play ;
I leave thee, I leave thee, and yet it repents me
    To quit thy blue waters for many a day.

Source:  The Craftsman, Volume First ; for 1829-30. Rochester: E.J. Roberts, 1829. At the head of the title: From the Boston Statesman

The identity of O. P. is unknown.