Niagara Falls from below. This poem was inspired by a trip behind the falls starting near this spot. Image courtesy of Niagara Falls Public Library
The tenfold thunders awful crash,
The sea of foam at your feet,
The play of the quivering sunbeam
On Niagara’s ample sheet.
Impress the soul with religious awe
As you gaze at the crystal flood ;
And as you drink their glories in,
You give the praise to God.
Source: R.A. Wade. A Poem on Niagara Falls. Louisville, Ky.: Sherrill, Turner & Co., 1874
View the book by Wade on the Hathi Trust site. It includes an essay by Wade entitled My Visit to the Falls starting on p. 19; this poem is included in the essay, in a section about going behind the flood of the Falls to Termination Rock.
I have been to “Termination Rock,”
Where many have been before;
But as I can’t describe the scene,
I won’t say any more.
Anonymous
If you cannot describe the scene —
Which all should much deplore —
Inferior bards should drop their pens — Their verse would be a bore.
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
‡‡‡‡‡‡“A young salmon, one day, ‡‡‡‡‡‡To his mother did say,
“I should very much like a nice leap through the spray.” ‡‡‡‡‡‡The old lady said, “Why, ‡‡‡‡‡‡If you like you may try;
But I guess that the jump will be found rather high.” ‡‡‡‡‡‡Then she just took a peep, ‡‡‡‡‡‡But thought it too deep;
“No, no,” said mamma, “Catch a weasel asleep — ‡‡‡‡‡‡Mind, child, if you go ‡‡‡‡‡‡To the realms below,
What will become of you then I don’t know.” — ‡‡‡‡‡‡But the young fish, so wise, ‡‡‡‡‡‡Did its mother despise,
And being adventurous straightforward tries. ‡‡‡‡‡‡Soon it fell from the edge, ‡‡‡‡‡‡And got dashed on a ledge,
Whence an Indian to bring it back soon gave a pledge. ‡‡‡‡‡‡The Indian so brave ‡‡‡‡‡‡His pledged honor to save,
Found a path by the rock out of reach of the wave; ‡‡‡‡‡‡Through spray and through squall, ‡‡‡‡‡‡He returned — fish and all;
And he was the first that went under the Fall. ‡‡‡‡‡‡Mr. Forsyth then came, ‡‡‡‡‡‡And went under the same,
And thus to posterity handing his name. ‡‡‡‡‡‡What after befell, ‡‡‡‡‡‡The guides best can tell — I went, with my wife; and we both liked it well!
October 24, 1839. H. Sylvester is from the Vicarage, Buckingham, England.
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
