The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls

Related Poem Content DetailsBY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
The tide rises, the tide falls, 
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls; 
Along the sea-sands damp and brown 
The traveller hastens toward the town, 
      And the tide rises, the tide falls. 

Darkness settles on roofs and walls, 
But the sea, the sea in the darkness calls; 
The little waves, with their soft, white hands, 
Efface the footprints in the sands, 
      And the tide rises, the tide falls. 

The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls 
Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls; 
The day returns, but nevermore 
Returns the traveller to the shore, 
      And the tide rises, the tide falls. 

Today was the funeral of my uncle. The reading by the vicar taking the ceremony gave a nice reading of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. After the ceremony a walk on the beach at Rhyl echoed the words.