# Niagara Dry explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A poem describing a rare event when a strong gale and ice blockage caused Niagara Falls to nearly dry up, allowing a lady to plant a British flag on the riverbed, a sight not seen since biblical times.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Environment

The poem focuses on a rare natural event caused by ice and wind, highlighting the power and unpredictability of nature.

### Local Patriotism and Regional Pride

The planting of the British flag at Niagara symbolizes patriotic pride and a claim to the landmark.

## Character check-ins

### Bulwer-Lytton

Mentioned in comparison to the romantic nature of the event.

### Bishop Fuller

Witnessed the flag planting and cheered.

## Key lines

> It happened once in early spring, While there did float great thick ice cakes, That then a gale did quickly bring Them all down from the upper lakes.

One early spring, a strong wind pushed large ice chunks from the upper lakes down the river.

_Describes the initial conditions leading to the event._

> Then gale blew up lake and river, And left Niagara almost dry, This a lady did discover As above the Falls she cast her eye.

The wind blew so strongly that it nearly dried up Niagara Falls, which a lady noticed while looking over the falls.

_Highlights the lady's discovery of the dry falls._

> Lady she resolved to venture, Proudly carrying British flag, Erecting it in river’s centre In crevice of a rocky crag.

The lady bravely carried a British flag and planted it in a crack in the rock in the middle of the riverbed.

_Describes the act of claiming the site with the flag._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/niagara-dry
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters