I was rapt in unutterable amaze
As I looked upon its awful front,
And saw the terrific roll of waters
As down the deadly mesmeric gorge they fell
In power irresistible, tremendous,
As if the wrath of God would rend the world asunder
For the sin and wrong that man hath done!
And the earth trembled as one in fear—
And the thunderous roar of its awesome voice
Made all else seem silent as the dead!

Yet, majestic and supremely beautiful art thou
When the god of day pours o’er thy front his wondrous light,
Or when the golden stars and dreaming, silvery moon
Lighteth up the slumb’rous shadows of the night.
Aye, thou art sublime, though terrible, Niagara!
How diminutive are man’s works compared to thee!
Thou awe-inspiring, terrific world-wide wonder—
Marvellous work of the Deity!

And thou hast rolled and rolled, Niagara;
Adown the ages of the dim, mysterious past
Thou hast thundered in derision of the flight of time,
And mocked when nations to the grave were cast!
But the Creator holds thee in the hollow of His hand,
And when the sea shall render up its ghastly dead
Thou shalt be shorn of thy stupendous power,
And bow thy cruel and imperious head.