A maiden was fishing the river one day
admiring the sparkle of sunlight at play
upon the waves that rushed by the shore
and lost in the sound of the great river’s roar
( 2) good fortune was hers and she soon had a catch
and was casting again to get that one’s match
but as the maid hauled on the thin fishing line
she felt a great tug, and a voice said ‘that’s mine’
( 3) a man had appeared with her fish in his hand
and was scowling at her as he came toward the land
but soon as he saw the fair Indian maid
a smile replaced the dark frown he had made
( 4) ‘you’ve taken what’s mine,’ he said with a grin
admiring the glow of her soft copper skin
‘you must give me a kiss – I think payment’s fit
or I’ll drown you right here on the rocks where you sit
( 5) ‘though the maid knew this ‘man’ was the great god He-No
she was reluctant to let her fish go
so she faced him as though she might actually fight
kissed him – them pushed him – then clasped the fish tight
( 6) laughing, the god fell back into the waves
calling, ‘you, dear, are bolder than any young brave!
‘but the maid didn’t hear as she ran toward the trees
fighting the quiver that weakened her knees
( 7) the maid told no one of the day’s strange event
but that night couldn’t sleep as she lay in her tent
for each time that she closed her eyes all she could see
was the man who had smiled at her tenderly
( 8 ) and in the thunder of Oniagara’s roar
she herd his voice calling her down to the shore
tomorrow, she promised, as sleep finally came
whispering softly her sweet He-No’s name
( 9) day after day the maid went to the shore
always returning with fish by the score
so all were quite proud of the maid’s industry
and how she contributed so happily
(10) but when the fall painted the trees red and gold
her father, the chief, said, ‘my dear, I am old…
and I’d see you married before I must go
so I’ve chosen a husband from the best men I know’
(11) in shock the maid watched as a handsome young man
stood and approached the great chief of the clan
as others around them broke into a cheer
the poor maiden turned and ran off like a deer’
(12) ‘she’s just as that age’ the chief said to the others
and received knowing nods from the fathers and mothers
but he gave the lad leave to go search for his bride
knowing he needed a balm for his pride
(13) while the lads searched the gorge –
where the maid liked to play
the clan started the feast for the nuptial day
but the chief felt the need to confer with a peer
so he went to the falls where the waters ran clear
(14) He-No he thought, was much older than he
and would give him advice – if he asked – happily
… perhaps he had rushed the poor girl after all…
…would the youth wait?… would the clan let him stall?
(15) but as the chief called out to raise the great god
he spied, up the river, a sight that was odd
a boat was adrift atop the high waves
and in it the chief thought he saw a young brave
(16) shouting and running toward the shore line
he prayed help would come to him in enough time
for the rapids that bore the boat claimed many lives
once caught in their pull, he thought, no one survives!
(17) ‘I love you!’ he herd from inside the canoe
fear gripped him as he saw there was nought he could do
’twas his daughter was riding along with the waves
as calmly as if she were one of his braves
(18) then she waved as the boat tumbled over the falls
and the chieftain gave up on his pleas and his calls
and used all his strength to run back to the crest
feeling his heart break inside of his chest
(19) at that moment the ground lurched and gave a great heave
so the chief thought his senses had taken their leave
but the truth was a third falls had just been new born
between the two others, so old and so worn
(20) watching the water course over and down
he was sure he would see his poor daughter had drowned
but instead, to his great shock, she stood far below
atop of the river, beside great He-No
(21) the god appear young and as tall as a tree
holding the maid’s hand, he beamed happily’
your daughter will marry, this day,’ he then said
‘but I am the one that this sweet girl will wed’
(22) ‘she will live with me always behind the great falls
and bare many children to fill my great hall’
then He-No said of the new falls he’d made
‘that veil shall honour the joining we’ve made’
(23) then taking his sweet maiden by her small hand
He-No parted the waters by where they did stand
and led her beyond them to start her new life
as his most cherished and beloved young wife
(24) though the chief felt great sorrow, he was also proud
to see his dear daughter pass beyond the shroud
and though he would miss her, he also was sure
that the love the two shared was blessed and pure
(25) ever since then it has always been said
that He-No now blesses all those who are wed
where Oniagara falls in a wondrous cascade
or ‘long the banks of the river where his maiden first played
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