carnival tunes by atlantic

carnival
Clifton Hill Photo by Kosta Bratsos on Unsplash

try to imagine
Niagara as music
there are the Falls themselves, of course
sombre and awe-inspiring
but also:
the din and shriek of Clifton Hill
“at the house of Frankenstein… kill a little time with us”
if you tell me
you didn’t hear those words?
I’ll call you a liar.
the cacophony of sights and sounds
from the Midway on a busy day
or from Casino Niagara, the adults equivalent
endless cries and bellows from these arcades
a bazaar of peoples delights, backlight by ringing, screaming machines
bellowing players, young and old
while the fireworks echo out a beat of joyful thunder
busy traffic on Queen Elizabeth’s Way
summer tourists, coming to visit
residents fleeing to Muskoka, summer tourists themselves
the harsh buzz of helicopters
over Stanley Avenue and River Road
contrasts nicely with the steady whock
of golf balls on countless courses beyond number
the Boulevard’s nightclubs and bars
keep their own pulsing, sensual rhythm
the great Horseshoe is a hymn
to nature’s power and might
but Niagara itself is calliope music
a happy carnival tune


Source: The author, 2019

atlantic was born and raised in Niagara Falls, where he still resides. A selection of his work is available on Instagram

Also by atlantic:
•    Baby Steps IV
•    burgoyne bridge
•    Robert Frost
•    water child

Helicopter Rescue: A Limerick by Andrew Porteus

helicopter
Helicopter rescue at the brink of Niagara Falls Horseshoe Falls, March 19, 2003. Photo by Corey Larocque, used with permission of Niagara Falls Public Library

A man changed his mind at the last minute
Suicide was now out – past his limit.
A helicopter was called
And in he was hauled
And then they all went out for a timbit!

Source: The Author, 2019

An unidentified man was rescued from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls on March 19, 2003, after spending 90 minutes in the water. He was fortunate that the water level was low and his foot got stuck in a crack in the riverbed.