Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a renowned poet and author, wrote "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" and "A Psalm of Life". These poems share many similarities, but like all poems each has its own special touch too. .
"The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" and "A Psalm of Life" have many similarities. Both poems contain death as their central theme. Longfellow alludes to footprints in sand in both poems. They both seem to express the sea, as an unyielding and merciless power. Both contain animals that symbolize something else. Finally, both seem to try to teach the reader a lesson.
But of course each poem is different in its own way too. "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" seems to have a gloomier feel to it than "A Psalm of Life". It seemed as if at the end of "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls," Longfellow was trying to tell the reader he has no impact on life, and he will not me missed. While in " A Psalm of Life", he seemed to be conveying the exact opposite message, that one can leave his mark in life. " A Psalm of Life" expresses the idea of a tomorrow, a future, and a bright new beginning, but "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" seems to try to convey the point that there is no tomorrow, nothing to look forward to except darkness. "A Psalm of Life" which is longer, also seems to express to reader to enjoy life, live it to the fullest, and leave your mark, while the other contains no such advice. .
Even though "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" and "A Psalm of Life" are both written by Longfellow and contain many similarities, each one is unique. .