# London Flood explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A poetic account of the devastating flood in London, Ontario on July 11, 1883, describing the destruction of homes, infrastructure, and crops, as well as the tragic loss of life, including a mother's desperate attempt to save her infant and a family losing three members.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Environment

The poem vividly depicts the destructive power of nature through the flood's overwhelming force, which swept away homes, railroads, and fertile land.

### Mortality and Loss

The flood caused death and mourning, exemplified by a mother losing her infant and a family burying three members in two funerals.

## Key lines

> A mother climbed in tree to save Her infant from a watery grave, But on the house you saw its blood Where it was crushed ’gainst tree by flood

A mother climbed a tree to rescue her baby from drowning, but the infant was crushed against the tree by the floodwaters, leaving blood on the house.

_This illustrates the tragic human cost of the flood._

> Two funerals we at once did see Of one family who lost three

We witnessed two funerals on the same day for a single family that had lost three members.

_Highlights the concentrated grief and loss within one family._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/london-flood
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters