Niagara Falls 



1882 

 1882 Houghton, George W. Niagara. (In his Niagara, and other 



Houghton poems Bost . Houghton Mifflin. 1882. Pp. 1-28.) 



Begins with the creation of Niagara and deals with a pilgrim who 

 journeys to Niagara to seek an answer to the riddle of life. He goes to 

 the rapids, the Falls, and the whirlpool each in turn but without result. 

 Finally a little bird brings in song the message 



" Seek within, without is only reflection." 



In the course of the poem the rapids, cataract, the gorge, and whirlpool are 

 all described. 



The Cataract 



Still to thy Fall I come near, as unto earth's grandest cathedral, 



Forehead uncovered, hands down, with feet that falter beneath 

 me; 



Hearing afar, o'er the rustling grass and the rush of the river; 



Chorus triumphant, thy trumpet voice, and I tremble with weak- 

 ness. 



Tall above tower and tree looms thy steeple builded of sunshine, 

 Mystical steeple, white like a cloud, unyeaming toward heaven, 

 Till into cloud-land it drifts, uprolling in hill-tops and headlands, 

 Catches the glory of sunset, then pales into rose-tint and purple. 



Slowly, through gothic aisles, I creep to the steps of thine altar, 

 Halfway forgetting thy presence, though still with each step I 



draw nearer, 

 Halfway forgetting thy voice, so far it sends fancy awandering 

 Till, with a sudden ascent, full-face thou standest before me. 



Who, upon tiptoes straining, shall snare the fleet course of the 



comet ! 

 Who in bright pigments shall match the luminous sun-god at 



mid-day ! 

 Who shall dare picture in words the turbulent wrath of the 



tempest ! 

 Seeing, I can but stand still, with finger on lip, and keep silent. 



786 



