Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ROCK OF THE PASSAIC FALLS, by OLIVER CRANE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ROCK OF THE PASSAIC FALLS, by                    
First Line: Rock where the many come
Last Line: Echoes no more.
Subject(s): Rivers; Waterfalls


Rock where the many come
Viewing thy water's foam,
On thee I stand:
'Tis of thy chasmed walls,
Where its mad torrent falls
Spurning command,
That thy Passaic's name
Claims an undying fame
In every land.

Rock of the misty cloud,
Where the bald eagle proud,
Leaving his prey
Free in his forest-home,
Came and mid dashing foam
Bathed in the spray,
Pluming his pinions light
Ere on his upward flight
Soaring away.

Rock of wild resonance,
Where the red hunter once
Fearlessly stood,
Listeningly wondering
Whilst the loud thundering
Roar of thy flood
Rolled through the firmament,
Strangely reverberant
From hill and wood.

Broad from thy dizzy height
Roll all thy waters bright;
Solemn as death;
As if all motionless
Over the dark abyss
Gathering their breath,
Ere, on the awful bound,
Down, down the dread profound
Plunging beneath.

Raging and struggling
Far on the rocks they fling
Madly their spray:
Billow its billow meets,
Shrouded in misty sheets
Scorning delay,
Whirling and eddying,
Many a foamy ring
Floating away.

Spanning thine awful brow
Brighter and fainter now
Changeful in glow,
Circled in halos bright
Image of holy light,
Beams heaven's bow
Calmly, sublimely throned,
Whilst the deep ocean-toned
Storm raves below.

Wide from thy chasm deep
Boiling the waters sweep,
Fitful and slow;
Foamy yet rippleless,
Bound to the far abyss
Onward they flow
Claiming paternity
Now with the briny sea
Whither they go.

Rock where the warriors stood,
Long may Passaic's flood
Over thee pour;
Deep as the ocean's moan,
Ceaseless its solemn tone
Resonant roar,
Till the last trumpet's blast
Bid thy wild chasms cast
Echoes no more.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net