Читать книгу Canadian Battlefields, and Other Poems - J. R. Wilkinson - Страница 13

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I was rapt in unutterable amaze

As I looked upon its awful front,

And saw the terrific roll of waters

As down the deadly mesmeric gorge they fell

In power irresistible, tremendous,

As if the wrath of God would rend the world asunder

For the sin and wrong that man hath done!

And the earth trembled as one in fear—

And the thunderous roar of its awesome voice

Made all else seem silent as the dead!

Yet, majestic and supremely beautiful art thou

When the god of day pours o’er thy front his wondrous light,

Or when the golden stars and dreaming, silvery moon

Lighteth up the slumb’rous shadows of the night.

Aye, thou art sublime, though terrible, Niagara!

How diminutive are man’s works compared to thee!

Thou awe-inspiring, terrific world-wide wonder—

Marvellous work of the Deity!

And thou hast rolled and rolled, Niagara;

Adown the ages of the dim, mysterious past

Thou hast thundered in derision of the flight of time,

And mocked when nations to the grave were cast!

But the Creator holds thee in the hollow of His hand,

And when the sea shall render up its ghastly dead

Thou shalt be shorn of thy stupendous power,

And bow thy cruel and imperious head.