Niagara Falls 



1871 Over the foamy tops of the waves, and the foam-sprent sides, 

 HowclU Over the hidden reefs, and through the embattled tides, 



Onward rushes the raft, with many a lurch and leap, — 

 Lord! if it strike him loose from the hold he scarce can keep! 

 No ! through all peril unharmed, it reaches him harmless at last, 

 And to its proven strength he lashes his weakness fast. 

 Now, for the shore! But steady, steady, my men, and slow; 

 Taut, now, the quivering lines; now slack; and so, let her go! 

 Thronging the shores around stand the pitying multitude; 

 Wan as his own are their looks, and a nightmare seems to brood 

 Heavy upon them, and heavy the silence hangs on all, 

 Save for the rapids' plunge, and the thunder of the fall. 

 But on a sudden thrills from the people still and pale, 

 Chorussing his unheard despair, a desperate wail ; 

 Caught on a lurking point of rock it sways and swings, 

 Sport of the pitiless waters, the raft to which he clings. 



Ill 



All the long afternoon it idly swings and sways; 

 And on the shore the crowd lifts up its hands and prays: 

 Lifts to heaven and wrings the hands so helpless to save, 

 Prays for the mercy of God on him whom the rock and the wave 

 Battle for, fettered betwixt them, and who amidst their strife 

 Struggles to help his helpers, and fights so hard for his life, — 

 Tugging at rope and at reef, while men weep and women swoon. 

 Priceless second by second, so wastes the afternoon. 

 And it is sunset now; and another boat and the last 

 Down to him from the bridge through the rapids has safely 

 passed. 



IV 



Wild through the crowd comes flying a man that nothing can stay, 

 Maddening against the gate that is locked athwart his way. 

 " No ! we keep the bridge for them that can help him. You, 

 Tell us, who are you?" "His brother! " "God help you 

 both! Pass through." 



764 



