How does the theme of “The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls” develop as the poem moves forward? The poem starts with an indication of inevitability and ends on a note of transcendence. The poem begins by suggesting that humans live in harmony with nature, then contradicts itself by the end. The poem’s overall theme changes from one that indicates an awe of nature to one that conveys a fear of it. The natural imagery is developed throughout to indicate that nature continues long after humans do.
