The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls…what’s it about?

  • Popularity of “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls”: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a famous American poet, and educator wrote this poem. It is a wonderful literary piece, published in the 19th century. The poem is known for its simplicity and for having an artistic expression. It was composed to capture the beauty of the eternal tides, which rise and fall endlessly on the seashore.
  • “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls” As a Representative of Life: This poem presents the perspective of an old traveler who is standing on the verge of death. The poet presents the never-ending rise and fall of the tides in contrast with the finite journey of the traveler to show the mortality of life. The constant rise and fall of the tides emphasize the reoccurring cycle of life in the universe, where people are born, go through different phases of life and then silently leave. Also, time washes away the spots of their existence. However, what stays in the minds of the readers is the impacts of the transience of life and eternity of the tides.
  • Major Themes in “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls”: Man, the natural world and mortality are some of the major themes. The poem comprises emotions of a traveler, who witnesses the constant rise and fall of the tide, which symbolically shows the progression of life. The rising signifies the beginning of life, and the falling tides signify the end of mortal life.