I'm a word of one syllable. Look you for me
Mid Niagara's roar; in the turbulent sea;
Where the winds and the waters are wildest at play,
And fling off their laughter in volumes of spray.
I'm a noun of five letters; but throw one aside--
I'm a verb; with the noun I'm no longer allied.
I'm a grave, solemn verb; nay, I truly might say,
Those who follow my precept do nothing but pray.
But again; let two letters be dropped--there's a change;
As a noun--and by no means a grave one--I range.
Now I'm here; now I'm there; seen by night and by day,
For in short, I'm a beam, or a flash, or a ray.
Thus a verb and two nouns packed together you see,
In a word of one syllable.--What can it be?