nichepoetryandprose

This past weekend, we made a visit to two of New Brunswick’s waterfalls: Erbs Falls and Smith Falls, both on the Kingston Peninsula.   

Erbs Falls begins as a quickening of the water of Peters Brook in a narrowing gorge.

 At this time of year, the water proceeds in one of two pathways, down the labyrinth of the fish ladder…

…or into a deep, narrow gorge through the bedrock…

… to emerge into the sunlight as Erbs Falls.

Smith Falls begins as a series of smaller falls in the brook.  The path runs along the brook, so we saw every ripple and dip.

The water plunges over the lip of the falls…

…flows past a small cave…

… and forces its way between rocks over the lower part of the falls.

Waterfalls are the ultimate experience of water.  At the base of the waterfall are the mingled sounds of the thundering water and the gurgle of the stream.  The shade and mists are cooling, refreshing.  Sneakers get wet, hands are washed in cold water, and balance is tested as you follow the downward path of the waterfall.

I also like to think about the shape of the rock under the falls.  I watch the spout and flume of the water to see what solid shapes beneath the flow have shaped the waterfall.  I try to see through the white curtain of water to see the rock and stone, and understand how they are both revealed and concealed by the waterfall.

beneath waterfall

~

what can I do

to cover me

feign a drip of waterfall

from a single eye

or a flume

from the fluid of two

~

shall I arrange

my hair to hide beneath

my skin a wasp-nest

paper waterfall

hung lightly

~

who will see me

if I place my hands on rock

freckles are dapples of sun

fingernail glints of mica

or whorls in fingerprint

swirl like water

~

the spare notes of white-throat

or fluid jubilee of robin

flow over, compose sheet

music of quarter notes

to cover me

~

sitting here

on the edge of the bed

far from waterfall

electric fan for breeze

electric bulbs for sparkle

down-filled white duvet 

to hide beneath

~

© Jane Tims  2011