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The poem is known for being one of the worst poems in the English language, and is still widely quoted: :Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay! :Alas! I am very sorry to say :That ninety lives have been taken away :On the last Sabbath day of 1879, :Which will be remember'd for a very long time. :'Twas about seven o'clock at night, :And the wind it blew with all its might, :And the rain came pouring down, :And the dark clouds seem'd to frown, :And the Demon of the air seem'd to say- :"I'll blow down the Bridge of Tay." :When the train left Edinburgh :The passengers' hearts were light and felt no sorrow, :But Boreas blew a terrific gale, :Which made their hearts for to quail, :And many of the passengers with fear did say- :"I hope God will send us safe across the Bridge of Tay." :But when the train came near to Wormit Bay, :Boreas he did loud and angry bray, :And shook the central girders of the Bridge of Tay :On the last Sabbath day of 1879, :Which will be remember'd for a very long time. :So the train sped on with all its might, :And Bonnie Dundee soon hove in sight, :And the passengers' hearts felt light, :Thinking they would enjoy themselves on the New Year, :With their friends at home they lov'd most dear, :And wish them all a happy New Year. :So the train mov'd slowly along the Bridge of Tay, :Until it was about midway, :Then the central girders with a crash gave way, :And down went the train and passengers into the Tay! :The Storm Fiend did loudly bray, :Because ninety lives had been taken away, :On the last Sabbath day of 1879, :Which will be remember'd for a very long time. :As soon as the catastrophe came to be known :The alarm from mouth to mouth was blown, :And the cry rang out all o'er the town, :Good Heavens! the Tay Bridge is blown down, :And a passenger train from Edinburgh, :Which fill'd all the peoples hearts with sorrow, :And made them for to turn pale, :Because none of the passengers were sav'd to tell the tale :How the disaster happen'd on the last Sabbath day of 1879, :Which will be remember'd for a very long time. :It must have been an awful sight, :To witness in the dusky moonlight, :While the Storm Fiend did laugh, and angry did bray, :Along the Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay, :Oh! ill-fated Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay, :I must now conclude my lay :By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay, :That your central girders would not have given way, :At least many sensible men do say, :Had they been supported on each side with buttresses, :At least many sensible men confesses, :For the stronger we our houses do build, :The less chance we have of being killed.. SEE ALSO |
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