The Poetry Corner

Niagara

By John Campbell

A ceaseless, awful, falling sea, whose sound Shakes earth and air, and whose resistless stroke Shoots high the volleying foam like cannon smoke! How dread and beautiful the floods, when, crowned By moonbeams on their rushing ridge, they bound Into the darkness and the veiling spray; Or, jewel-hued and rainbow-dyed, when day Lights the pale torture of the gulf profound! So poured the avenging streams upon the world When swung the ark upon the deluge wave, And, o'er each precipice in grandeur hurled, The endless torrents gave mankind a grave. God's voice is mighty, on the water loud, Here, as of old, in thunder, glory, cloud!