Niagara Falls 

 1906 But now, subterranean, mirthless, 



Wilkinson t . n , • 



1 tug and strain, 

 Beating out a dance thou hast taught me 



With penstock, cylinder, vane. 

 I am more delicate than moonlight, 



Grave as the thunder's rocking brow; 

 I am genesis, revelation, 



Yet less than thou. 



By this I adjure thee, brother, 



Beware to offend! 

 For the least, the dumbfounded, the conquered, 



Shall judge in the end. 



The turbine talked to the man 

 At the switchboard's cryptic key: 



Brother, thy touch is whirlwind 

 Consuming me. 



I revolve at the pulse of thy finger. 



Millions of power I flash 

 For the muted and ceaseless cables 



And the engine's crash. 

 Like Samson, fettered, blindfolded, 



I sweat at my craft ; 

 But I build a temple I know not, 



Driver and ring and shaft. 



Wheat-field and tunnel and furnace, 



They tremble and are aware, 

 But beyond thou compellest me, brother, 



Beyond these, where? 

 Singing like sunrise on battle, 



I travail as hills that bow ; 

 I am wind and fire of prophecy, 



Yet less than thou. 

 832 



