Noccalula strode closer to the edge of the waterfall. With one foot forward, she plunged into the rushing sound of thunder. What caused her death? The blame can be divided unto a broken heart and a father's greed.

Refrain:

The Black Creek Falls no more remain
And love was much to blame.
A broken heart sang sorrow’s pain
And gave it a new name.

(I)
Long ago and far away
Where myth and legend dance,
A princess born a Cherokee
Spoke up for true romance.

(II)
Her father wore the chief’s headgear.
His greatness spread around
Those in his tribe he governed o’er.
His presence was profound.

(Refrain)

(III)
He prided himself on the place
Where his rule held its thrall:
A mountain apex binding sight
With its lush waterfall.

(IV)
From where the tribesmen gathered, sounds
Of rushing water’s streaming
Found one princess, Noccalula,
Lost in her daydreaming.

(Refrain)

(V)
This young girl’s beauty carried o’er
For miles and miles and miles.
Her raven hair fell round her face,
A mystery was her smile.

(VI)
There were none within the tribe
That matched her loveliness,
Yet humble nature she adorned
Like she wore her headdress.
(Refrain)

(VII)
Its simple form, a band around
Her forehead to display
Her status, yet she bowed to most
Who came to pass her way.

(VIII)
This earned a reputation granting
Her to be admired.
And yet she shrugged this off as if
It never had transpired.


(Refrain)

(IX)
Her father boasted on her, knowing
She would fetch a prize.
Her looks, his fame, together would
Fill tepees to the skies

(X)
With wampum, furs, and quilts in stock,
As well as horses too.
His need for greed devoured him
Thus blinding the chief’s view.

(Refrain)

(XI)
Now many warriors sought the hand
Of Noccalula’s granting.
‘T was only one who caught her eye,
A seed of love then planting.

(XII)
In Alabama, he became
A hero for his clan.
His valor posted bravery,
Indeed he was a man.

(Refrain)


(XIII)
It wasn’t long before the two
Fell deeply into love.
Their hearts entwined together as
The stars and skies above.

(XIV)
The young brave hunted everyday
To show he could provide.
His heart beat only for this one
Who filled him up inside.

(Refrain)

(XV)
Unknown to Noccalula or
Her brave whom she adored,
Her father met with the Creek Chief,
A union he explored.

(XVI)
The Creek Chief’s son stood by their side
As two men talked and bartered.
Smugness filled his face as his
New course his father chartered.

(Refrain)


(XVII)
All the riches he could want
Just as he had so dreamed
This union to the Creek Chief’s son
Would bring as his heart schemed.

(XVIII)
In contrast, he the princess loved
Had nothing but his soul
To offer, noble as it was,
Not quite her father’s goal.

(Refrain)


(XIX)
Woodlands brimmed with life that spring
As Noccalula’s heartbeat
Paced and raced for her young brave
Whose honor made her complete.

(XX)
Now when she spoke her heart’s desire,
Her father raged in anger.
He called the young brave to his hut,
His words put him in danger.

(Refrain)

(XXI)
Noccalula fell before
Her father’s feet then crying.
“Please don’t do this daddy!” she
screamed as she felt like dying.

(XXII)
He, the man she loved with all,
Her father sent away,
Banished from the Cherokees
That fitful, frightful day.

(Refrain)

(XIII)
Without a word, the young brave turned
As from her father’s tepee
Came forth the Creek Chief and his son,
The scene filled full of melee.

(XIV)
“Noccalula, you shall wed
this young Creek in the morning.
This will unify both tribes.”
He said without a warning.

(Refrain)

(XV)
Watching leave her true st love,
Before her father and
These two whom she had never met,
She thought of his command.

(XVI)
Her eyes depicted hatred, but
Her mouth spoke not a word.
Her father knew he robbed his child
Without her sweet voice heard.

(Refrain)

(XVII)
“Daughter, this is best for all.”
He added as she turned.
One glance at her betrothed, within
The broken princess burned

(XVIII)
With rage and animosity.
Her heart could not believe
Her father whom she loved so well
Her choice did not receive.

(Refrain)

(XIX)
She lost her train of thinking as
Her father said to those
“She will be fine, just wait until
She dons her wedding clothes.”

(XXX)
Noccalula ran inside
Her tepee weeping fountains.
That night she made a bitter oath
To join with her tribe’s mountain.

(Refrain)

(XXXI)
Dawn approached and as the light
Beamed through an open crack,
The princess of the Cherokees
Vowed she would not turn back.

(XXXII)
A day unlike no other day,
The women in the tribe
Began preparing Noccalula,
Lost in her heart’s bribe.

(XXXIII)
From the corner of her eye,
She saw her father’s actions.
He met with the Creek Chief and
The chief’s son as a faction.

(Refrain)

(XXXIV)
Breaking her heart more and more,
Each smile her father gave
Embedded deeper in her soul
Her love for the young brave.

(XXXV)
Gone, he was, by cruel terms
With no hope left to foster.
Instead, there stood a rich man’s son
Whom she called the imposter.

(Refrain)

(XXXVI)
Deerskins decked in brown and white
Along with roses shedding
Thorny bush’s prickling stems
Were gathered for the wedding.

(XXXVII)
Noccalula saw the goods
Her father had collected.
Then she realized his love,
Arrested and rejected.

(Refrain)

(XXXVIII)
No more tears fell from her eyes
As noontime drew its curtain.
Sunshine beamed upon the face
Of one who knew for certain

(XXXIV)
What to do to ease the pain
Amidst her strong facade.
She smiled as women combed and teased
Her hair, not acting odd.

(Refrain)

(XXXV)
With painted skin and lofty eyes,
She marched throughout the camp.
When others moved to start the feast,
She felt her eyes grow damp.

(XXXVI)
Nothing came, but just beyond
The lull of flowing water
Spoke her name thus calling forth
The Cherokee Chief’s daughter.

(Refrain)

(XXXVII)
Such commotion, no one saw
The bride to be expired.
Through the woods, she made her way
Until her feet retired.

(XXXVIII)
In a glade beside the falls
An object caught her eye.
Closer she investigated,
Then let out a cry.

(Refrain)

(XXXIV)
Covered up beneath some brush
Her brave lay ever still.
With an arrow through his heart,
She lost her final will.

(XXXV)
By design, the arrow’s brand
Bore craftsmanship of Creek.
Kneeling down beside his form,
She found no words to speak.

(Refrain)

(XXXVI)
Just above her on a limb,
A hawk looked down on her.
Suddenly, its open beak
Told of what did occur.

(XXXVII)
“He whom you are set to marry
Did by strict request
Slay the brave whom you so love
To pass your father’s test.”

(Refrain)

(XXXVIII)
Flying off when finished speaking,
There the hawk did leave.
Noccalula stood and marched
As for the brave, she grieved.

(XXXIX)
To the ledge of where she saw
The water’s streaming flow,
She strode with her arms opened up
With one place left to go.

(Refrain)

(XL)
Rocky edges down below
Amidst the rushing tide
Ensured the princess’s success
Would not thus be denied.

(XLI)
Into air, she evanesced,
Free falling unto death.
Looking up, she saw the hawk
As came her final breath.

(Refrain)

(XLII)
After while, somebody said,
“Where is the bride to be?”
They looked and looked and looked some more,
But never did they see

(XLIII)
Princess Noccalula for
She had bid them farewell.
Panic struck the chief within
As time began to tell.

(Refrain)

(XLIV)
Searching for her then began
With Creeks and Cherokees
Side by side in hot pursuit
Of the lost bride to be.

(XLV)
Then the falls cried out aloud
As if to summon those
Who played the part in love’s demise,
The path one father chose.

(Refrain)

(XLVI)
Riches mattered little when
the chief saw on the stones
below his daughter’s tattered shape,
a twisted mass of bones.

(XLVII)
Mourning in an instant at
What now befell his sight,
His sorrow hung as from a branch,
Two hawks then took to flight.

(Refrain)

(XLVIII)
Several braves went down the path
Upon the chief’s direction.
Gathering his daughter’s form,
For his final inspection.

(XLIX)
He had the young brave brought as well,
And back to camp they went.
They both were buried side by side,
Together as was meant.

(Refrain)

(L)
He changed the name from Black Creek Falls
To Noccalula’s name sake.
His broken heart would never mend,
The price paid for his mistake.

(LI)
Noccalula it has stayed,
Reminding all quite well
In Gadsden, Alabama from
Where came this tragic tale.

(Refrain)



The incomparable Mathilde Bilbro’s The Legend of Noccalula inspired this poem.