The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls H. W. Longfellow The tide rises, the tide falls The twilight darkens, the curlew calls; Along the sea-sands damp and brown The traveler 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 traveler to the shore, And the tide rises, the tide falls. Questions: 1. What do these words (curlew, hastens, efface, steeds, hostler) mean? 2. What images does the poet present? 3. Discuss the possible symbolism of the third and fourth lines of the second stanza. 4. What are the other examples of symbolism in the poem? 5. How can the traveler be seen as a symbol?