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The Mighty Blondin -A Docupoem

 I became aware of the incredible achievements of Charles Blondin watching a  television progam a little while back and was prompted to go in search of more information concerning this fabulously talented funambulist. What an amazing life Charles Blondin lived...

As someone who has always struggled with heights I found myself in awe of this man's incredible mastery of tight rope walking, his superb balancing capabilities. He crossed Niagara Falls numerous times. I've been there once. I was happy to view the falls from a safe position. 

Anyway, my curiosity was sparked and the subsequent research has resulted in another docupoem. I shall be adding it to my ever expanding collection of these poems.

 Docupoems are reliant on realism, written from an observer’s standpoint, and shaped with a desire for revelation. They share truth in collaboration with the poet's voice. Readers, I present The Mighty Blondin!







 



The Mighty Blondin

Famous French funambulist

Charles Blondin

-The Mighty Blondin

Crossed Niagara’s

Mammoth gorge

Numerous times

Firstly, walking the high wire

-Without accoutrements

And subsequently,

Employing suitable theatrical flair

He traversed the watery divide

Legs secured in a sack,

Then with Harry Colcord on his back

Managing his manager across the great divide

Finishing safely on the other side.

Blindfolded next, then on stilts

Yet again trundling a wheelbarrow

Along the highwire narrow.

Harrowing deeds continued

A culinary crossing was the next course

-Stopping halfway

To treat himself to a freshly cooked omelette

High wire hunger averted,

But not extinguished it seemed…


Blondin crossed yet again

A chair in hand

Stopping halfway

Way up there,

On one of four legs

-belonging to the chair, let me add

not Blondin himself.


No terror, or room for error

The high and mighty aerialist

Was a genuine tightrope talent

Possessed of perfect poise

And spectacular rope tricks.


Up there above Niagara’s watery noise

And raging rapids

He remained a high achiever

And refused to fall for anything…

Alan j Wright



 

 








Today is Poetry Friday and our host is Margaret Simon  from Reflections On The Teche. Margaret's post this week features a poem as a love note to silence.







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Comments

  1. Linda Mitchell5 September 2025 at 19:59

    Oh, my goodness...I was nervous just reading your poem! Years ago, I wrote docupoems about a female tightrope walker who crossed over the falls. It's incredible to me that anyone would want to do that! You packed a lot of intriguing facts into this poem along with suspense. Well done! I think you've got a great collection in the making. I hope I get to read it in published form someday.

    ReplyDelete

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