Not everything in the past written down is good, and William
McGonagall (Q981978 on
Wikidata), «Grand Knight of the Holy Order of
the White Elephant Burmah», is a big example of that. Born in 1825, he
would write about 200 poems in his lifetime, many of them regarded as
the worst poems. Despite this, I do admire how, even when being mocked,
McGonagall still pushed through.
One of his most famous poems would be about the 1879 Tay Bridge disaster, where 59 were known to have died. Below is an extract of the poem. Note that he got the number of dead very wrong.
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.
This page was last edited on 2026-09-09 03:47:13.
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Let there be peace on Earth.