"Laughing Waters" or not...
whatever you want to call it...
it's beautiful!
Although it is said the translation is incorrect, I still like the thought of calling the falls in Minneapolis - "Laughing Water"
According to Wikipedia: "While the name is often translated as "Laughing Water", the correct translation is "curling water" or "waterfall". The name comes from the Dakota language elements mni, meaning water, and ȟaȟa, meaning waterfall."
Overlooking the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Park is one of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks, attracting over ½ million visitors annually. It is located at the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway.
The 193-acre park features a 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs and river overlooks. The park contains oak, elm, silver maple, basswood, hackberry and cottonwood trees, as well as native and prairie woodland wild flowers.
Visitors take advantage of abundant activities in the summer, including concerts, picnics, walking and viewing the Falls.
Over wide and rushing rivers
In his arms he bore the maiden.
On exhibit at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, the sculpture was purchased with pennies donated by school children in Minnesota – an effort organized by Mrs. L.P. Hunt of Mankato – and dedicated in 1912. The sculpture, which rests on a small island in the creek, can be viewed from the water’s edge a short way above the falls.
When I was a teenager, we stepped on stones to get over to the island and have our picture taken with the Indian maiden and her warrior.
Don't know if I ever read the whole poem though!That didn't stop me from writing a poetic attempt at a humorous play for a high school fund raiser which was based on the Longfellow poem. I remember having the football coach swing across the stage strapped into a harness like Peter Pan! I have no idea why the school administration went along with my play!
Guess they were just good sports!
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