2000
Listen to St. Catharines … as it was and is, read by Lini Grol’s niece, Karin Brenninkmeijer
Its toes wriggling
in the sand of the beach
of Lake Ontario
its young head resting
in the folds of the hill,
the still small town,
leisurely watched the world go by.
It was startled wide awake
when warriors battled around it
in eighteen twelve.
But once again it dozed off
contentedly dreaming of its glory.
Once more the city awoke
when men of genius
designed a canal to go right
through its heart and over the hill
connecting lake to lake
bringing the world at its door
drawing people with many tongues
races and cultures.
Wide awake now
good things happened
for the city was crowned
by the steeples of churches
cathedrals and mosques.
Schools were built, parks laid out,
where children frolicked
and the bands cheerfully played.
Yes, many good things were happening,
but one unforgettable day …
Evil … most horrid
scarred forever the grieving parents
kinship and the city …
And yet between the light and shadow,
the city grew in every dimension.
For now young and old,
climb day and night up the hill
to find answers for their quest.
Down at the lake, boats race
in and out into the port that grew
in size and beauty.
Near its beach, a carousel
in old fashioned glitter
enticing modern children
to a simple ring around
the joys of old time country fairs.
St. Catharines … glowing and growing
the city lives.
First published in Kevin McCabe and Lynne Prunskus [eds.], Lake to Lake. Lini Grol’s Niagara. St. Catharines: Blarney Stone Books, 2000, 50.
Published in Spirit of the Big Ditch: The Story of the Welland Canals in Pictures, Poems and Songs. Compiled, edited and annotated by Robert Ratcliffe Taylor. St. Catharines: The Historical Society of St. Catharines, 2024
The Historical Society of St. Catharines 