At Crow’s Nest Pass

At Crow’s Nest Pass the mountains rend
Themselves apart, the rivers wend
    A lawless course about their feet, 
    And breaking into torrents beat
In useless fury where they blend
    At Crow’s Nest Pass. 

The nesting eagle, wise, discreet, 
Wings up the gorge’s lone retreat
And makes some barren crag her friend
    At Crow's Nest Pass. 

Uncertain clouds, half-high, suspend
Their shifting vapours, and contend
   With rocks that suffer not defeat; 
   And snows, and suns, and mad winds meet
To battle where the cliffs defend
   At Crow’s Nest Pass.