For Fall break, my husband and I visited Niagara Falls. This trip was a bucket list item for me. The Falls did not disappoint. They are an amazing feat of nature, the kind that cannot be captured in a photo or video. You have to be there to hear the sounds of hundreds of thousands of gallons of water falling each second. I took a lot of pictures, but when I look at them now, they pale in comparison to the real live event. I’m so happy we did this trip. I highly recommend it. If you are planning to go, let me know. I have suggestions.
This morning’s Poem-a-Day from the Academy of American Poets was by Emily Lee Luan The warble of melting snow is the river. I borrowed her form for my own poem. I find that using a form helps me get out of my head and allowing creativity to do its magic.
The chant of rocks is the falls (after Emily Lee Luan)
is the rush of gravity
Margaret Simon, draft
is the impulse of water*
is the pull of a mother… child
is the everlasting light of the sun
is the building of power
is the electricity of ages
is the reflection of rainbows
is the promise of peace
is the waking of a dream
is the shift of river
to fall.
When you are inspired to write, please leave your poem in the comments so we can share. Write encouraging comments for other writers.
Reflections on the Teche 
Your photos have been beautiful, even though you’re right, you just can’t capture the awe-some majesty of the falls with a camera click. Your poem, somehow, gets closer to the truth than the photos. Maybe because you look into the heart of the falls, not just at the surface.
(Now I’m going back to that poem to see what the form might help me to say…)
Margaret, what prefect timing to use this form to pair with your trip and these majestic falls. Mary Lee is right, sometimes a poem is better than the photos.
Russian Sage enjoys–
Animated, open-eyed–
wonders of free falls
Thanks for writing a wonderful haiku today. Is the flower Russian Sage? I didn’t know. Animated is a great word choice.
Margaret, I just did research this morning using Lens and then I read that it is a fall-blooming flower that grows in that area, so I was pretty sure.
Your poem says so much, Margaret. And I really like that you borrowed a line and made it your own. The flowers jumped out at me first:
wildflowers wake
to the thunderous roar
music to live by
The name Ni-aga-ra means thundering water. Definitely music to live by. The sound was as amazing as the site.
#haiku
quote: “Who looks outside, dreams, who looks inside, awakes.” Carl Jung
Glowing mist rises
becoming mirrors of sun
lilac blooms awake
Written before I knew the flower is Russian Sage or Salvia.
I loved experiencing the awe of Niagara Falls through your eyes. I used to live about 20 minutes from the Falls and walked the park very often. It was always forceful and beautiful in all seasons but it was my every day. I so appreciate your new view.
My haiku:
Waters’ rapid plunge
Heavy remnant mist dousing
Sun-kissed clouds aglow
[…] poem this week for This Photo Wants to be a Poem was beautiful. Her inspiration was the Poem-a-Day from the Academy of American Poets, “The […]
“the shift of river to fall”–so beautiful! Apparently, I went there as a toddler, but obviously, have no recollection of it. I’d love to go back.
Margaret, exquisite foto, poem & trip. So glad you got away.
my words:
“rushing
to
where?”
some time back, we visited nf as a side trip at toronto, so our tips are to approach from the canada side ~ your poem immediately brings back the thunder sounds, which are still with me. t.y.
We walked over to the Canada side for dinner one night. We loved the views, but not so much the volume of tourists and loud music.
Hi. I curate the Niagara Falls Poetry Project at niagarapoetry.ca I was wondering if I could post your poem on the site, along with the photo you illustrated it with (Wildflowers at Niagara Falls, Oct. 2023). I will also put up a biography and link to your site.
Thanks very much.
Cheers, Andrew
I would be honored. Thanks.
OK, thanks. I’ve posted it at https://niagarapoetry.ca/2023/12/26/the-chant-of-rocks-is-the-falls-after-emily-lee-luan-by-margaret-simon/
Please let me know if you’d like any changes made to it. I’ve added the poem to the author & title indexes also. Thanks. I really appreciate it. My email is aporteus@niagarapoetry if that would be a better way to communicate.
Cheers, Andrew