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Niagara

Our one and only trip to America

in the Fall, almost forty-five

years ago. Rhode Island, Cape Cod,

Vermont, New Hampshire, Boston

... Niagara.

 

We drove through Buffalo

towards the falls, passing gaudy

'honeymoon hotels' boasting

the size of their water-beds.

The view from the US side

 

was impressive, yes, 

the little tourist boat almost

under the cascade. We briefly

crossed the border, where

the water's much closer;

 

you stand on the path ,

see it plunging only feet

away. The view from Canada

was grander, whatever

Donald Trump might say. 

 

 

🌷(5)

◄ Alphabet, oops!

Comments

Rolph David

Sun 16th Mar 2025 17:56

Dear Greg,
Your poem "Niagara" took me right back to my trip in 1986. Like you, we crossed from the US to Canada and were struck by the grandeur of the Falls. I laughed at your mention of the “honeymoon hotels” — those tourist traps certainly make the experience quirky. And your line about the view being grander from Canada, “whatever Donald Trump might say,” was a great touch!
Reading it also reminded me of Marilyn Monroe, whose film I watched around the same time. I couldn’t help but think of her 16-second walk in the penny heel shoe — that perfect blend of grace and power, much like the Falls themselves.
Thanks for bringing those memories back to life. Your poem captures the awe and the charm of such a memorable place perfectly.
Regards,
Rolph

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Greg Freeman

Sun 16th Mar 2025 08:24

Thanks for the comments, Graham and Steve, and for the Likes, Nigel, Red Brick, Hugh and Holden. For some reason the honeymoon hotels and waterbeds in this memory circa autumn 1981 reminded me recently of Mr Tangerine Man. The falls did look more impressive from the Canadian side.

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Stephen Gospage

Sat 15th Mar 2025 17:20

I was there around that time, Greg. Even with Reagan on the way, there seemed to be so much hope. Everything seemed possible. It still is, but in a thoroughly mean and rotten way.

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Graham Sherwood

Sat 15th Mar 2025 09:04

It would do him good to see things from a different angle now again. An abhorrent oaf!!!

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