Poetry of and about Niagara Falls & the Niagara River – the waterfalls, the city, the history, the stunters, and everything else Niagara
Roar away, mighty Fall
I am done — that is all.
Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848
This link takes you to the scanned version of the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust
See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.
Once on a time, with nought to do at home,
My wife and I determined we would roam;
But to agree upon the route,
Admitted much domestic doubt:
If I said East, she said ‘t was best,
She thought, to travel to the West;
So after many arguments and brawls,
She brought me, nolens, volens, to the FALLS.
“A man convinced against his will,
Is of the same opinion still;”
As Butler says ― though ‘t is the wit
More than the sense that I admit;
For I came here to end the strife
Between myself and my good wife.
Well, after staying here a week,
I took a rather curious freak;
For after having often been
At every celebrated scene,
I thought I’d study the effect they made
On men of different country ― of different trade.
The first, he was an Irishman;
The second was a Scot;
The third was an American;
The fourth I knew not what;
The fifth was a Canadian ―
Their names I will not tell:
But their remarks upon the Falls
I still remember well:
“O Vanagher, you’re surely bate,
For on my soul they’re mighty nate.” ― (Pat.)
“I’am no that sorry I cam’ here,
But by my sooth that public’s dear;
So when I’ve written doon my name,
I’ll tak’ my boondle an’ gang hame.” ― (Sawney.)
“Them Falls I’ve seen from every quarter,
And judge them but a waste of water.” ― (Jonathan.)
“Ce’st grande, superbe’ ma foi,
Magnifique ― O, by Gar! ver pretty!” ― (Jean Baptiste)
Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848
This link takes you to the scanned version of the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust
See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.
On Table Rock we did embrace
And then we stood both face to face.
The moon was up, the wind was high —
I looked at she, and she at I.
Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848
This link takes you to the scanned version of the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust
See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.
My wife and I went round the Falls;
‡‡My wife and I came back again;
My wife and I went up the hill;
‡‡And only think — we felt no pain!
Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848
This link takes you to the scanned version of the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust
See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.
The following verse is found in the Table Rock Album, unattributed and untitled.
My thoughts are strange, sublime and deep,
‡‡‡‡‡‡ As I look up to thee —
What a glorious place for washing sheep
‡‡‡‡‡‡ Niagara would be!
Further investigation reveals that this is a short excerpt from a longer poem, which can be found under the title Thoughts on Visiting Niagara in George Holley’s Niagara : Its History and Geology, Incidents and Poetry, With Illustrations.
“I wonder how long you’ve been a roarin‘
At this infernal rate ;
I wonder if all you’ve been a porin‘
Could be ciphered on a slate.
“I wonder how such a thund’rin‘ sounded
When all New York was woods ;
I suppose some Indians have been drownded
When rains have raised your floods .
“I wonder if wild stags and buffaloes
Havn’t stood where now I stand ;
Well , ‘spose—bein ‘scared at first—they stub’d their toes,
I wonder where they’d land !
“I wonder if the rainbow’s been a shinin‘
Since sunrise at creation ;
And this water-fall been underminin‘
With constant spateration !
“That Moses never mentioned ye, I’ve wondered,
While other things describin‘.
My conscience ! how loud you must have thunder’d
While the deluge was subsidin‘ !
“My thoughts are strange, magnificent and deep,
While I look down on thee.
Oh ! what a splendid place for washing sheep
Niagara would be !
“And oh ! what a tremendous water power
Is wasted o’er its edge !
One man might furnish all the world with flour
With a single privilege.
“I wonder how many times the lakes have all
Been emptied over here ?
Why Clinton didn’t feed the Grand Canawl
From hence, I think is queer.”
Source for the sheep washing fragment: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848
Source for the whole poem: George W. Holley. Niagara : Its History and Geology, Incidents and Poetry, With Illustrations. Toronto: Hunter, Rose and Company, 1872
This link takes you to the scanned version of the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust
See the Table of Contents of the Table Rock Album on this site.