Niagara Falls 



Mantled around thy feet. And he doth give 

 Thy voice of thunder power to speak of Him 

 Eternally — bidding the lip of man 

 Keep silence — and upon thine altar pour 

 Incense of awe-struck praise. 



Earth fears to lift 

 The insect trump that tells her trifling joys 

 Or fleeting triumphs, mid the peal sublime 

 Of thy tremendous hymn. Proud Ocean shrinks 

 Back from thy brotherhood, and all his waves 

 Retire abash'd. For he hath need to sleep, 

 Sometimes, like a spent labourer, calling home 

 His boisterous billows, from their vexing play. 

 To a long dreary calm: but thy strong tide 

 Faints not, nor e'er with failing heart forgets 

 Its everlasting lesson, night nor day. 

 The morning stars, that hailed creation's birth. 

 Heard thy hoarse anthem mixing with their song 

 Jehovah's name; and the dissolving fires, 

 That wait the mandate of the day of doom 

 To wreck the earth, shall find it deep inscribed 

 Upon thy rocky scroll. 



The lofty trees 

 That list thy teachings, scorn the lighter lore 

 Of the too fitful winds; while their young leaves 

 Gather fresh greenness from thy living spray, 

 Yet tremble at the baptism. Lo! yon birds, 

 How bold they venture near, dipping their wing 

 In all thy mist and foam. Perchance 'tis meet 

 For them to touch thy garment's hem, or stir 

 Thy diamond wreath, who sport upon the cloud 

 Unblamed, or warble at the gate of heaven 

 Without reproof. But, as for us, it seems 

 Scarce lawful with our erring lips to talk 

 Familiarly of thee. Methinks, to trace 

 720 . 



