By the Rushing Tahquamenaw
“Thus aloud cried Hiawatha
In the solitary forest,
By the rushing Tahquamenaw,
When the birds were singing gayly,
In the Moon of Leaves were singing,
And the sun, from sleep awaking,
Started up and said, ‘Behold me!
Gheezis, the great Sun, behold Me!’”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
From The Song of Hiawatha
Music: Waterfall
If any story ever written has affected me
It has to be Longfellow’s epic Hiawatha poem
A very kind nun in grammar school gave me a copy
Since childhood, when I travel, I never leave it home
I wrote an historical novel around it entitled Cemetery Island
I still read passages from it, while wandering in the northwood
I often travel to places that Longfellow mentions in his epic tale
The native lifestyle depicted in it, I still find so refreshingly good
On this trip, I was searching for the place Hiawatha built his canoe
This river was first documented by a French explorer, back in 1673
Its name ‘Tahquamenaw’ comes from a native word meaning ‘Amber’
The color comes from tanic acid leaking out of cedar and hemlock trees
And on this ancient flowing river, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
There is a truly lovely and inspiring place that is called Tahquamenon Falls
Here, this ancient, serene, meandering, amber-colored river drops by 50 feet
And on a truly lovely August dawn, while birds serenaded me, I marveled at it all
And the sun, from sleep awakening,
Started up, and said, ‘Behold Me!’
And as I stood there, at these Falls,
My heart was once again filled with glee.
The Ojibwa Indians depicted in Longfellow’s epic poem,
Once roamed these forests, from Minnesota to Michigan;
And as the sun began rising over old Tahquamenon Falls,
I picked up The Song of Hiawatha, and started reading again.
©2009, Mr. Ed
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I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE -
A POEM LOVELY AS THAT OF PEEWEE!
"... by the shores of Gitchegoomee ..." TK.
Wonderful tale… serenity captured my essence. Every day I learn something new. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your talent.
Best wishes, Ankin
Blesssings and Love - Micke
Newfie Hugs, Rose
I have a love for the sight of any Waterfalls
Thanks for sharing your travels once again, I enjoy them
Have a great day
The Buzzard
Cheers,
Dan
Refreshing indeed.
xx Ch'erie
goes along splendid with your beautiful picture, it is like a golden drink from the Gods. Blessings! Jasmin Horst
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D
I'd like to see the Falls myself (the Tahquamenon Falls, not Niagara; have already seen Niagara Falls, though I wouldn't mind going back! :) )!
Georg
Ed, this sequel to Part I is beautiful. You make it sound like a wonderful travelogue and if I were traveling in the area, I would definitely want to explore the places you've so adequately described.
BRAVO for an excellent write.