{
 "id": "james-mcintyre/bear-and-falls",
 "title": "Bear and Falls",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "James McIntyre",
 "poet_slug": "james-mcintyre",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Poems of James McIntyre",
 "book_slug": "poems-of-james-mcintyre",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 28,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1889,
  "venue": "Poems of James McIntyre (1889)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_11791"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/james-mcintyre_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_09542",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36068",
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_11791"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 36,
  "n_stanzas": 9,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 42,
  "max_indent": 0
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "Strange incidents do happen ever",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On the famed Niagara river,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This thought to mind it now recalls",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Event three miles above the falls.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Thrilling ventures there abound,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A bear which weighed eight hundred pounds,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Hunters they do him discover",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As he was swimming down the river.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "They felt he would be glorious prize",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This grand fat bear of mighty size,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Three men they jump’d into canoe,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A skilful and determined crew.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Soon alongside of him they row,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But kindly feelings he doth show,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Quick he scrambled o’er the boat side",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For to enjoy a good boat ride.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And as o’er the side he straddles",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They hit him on head with paddles,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But all in vain, so two of crew",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A short time bade the bear adieu.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And soon they swiftly swam to shore,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But current down the river bore",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Man, bear and boat, the sound appals",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of roaring mighty water falls.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But vigorous now he plys the oar,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In hopes to safely reach the shore,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But this made bear to grin and growl",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And wear on brow a horrid scowl.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "So poor man sore against his will",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Finds that in boat he must keep still,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or else be hugged to death by bear,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While sound of falls becomes more near.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But his two friends so brave and true",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Row quick ’longside in a canoe,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And fire in bruin leaden balls,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thus saving friend from bear and falls.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}