Great Tides (Poem by Edwin John Dove Pratt)

Great Tides

By Edwin John Dove Pratt

Great Tides! You filled the reaches

    Under the North's wild blow;

Yet could not spare this smaller cup

    Its salter overflow.

Huge hands! You rear our bulwarks up

    With power to none akin;

Yet cannot lift a door-latch up

    That a lad may enter in.

Poem Analysis:

"Great Tides" by Edwin John Dove Pratt is a poignant exploration of contrasts between the immense forces of nature and the subtle, everyday challenges of human existence.

Title: The title "Great Tides" immediately evokes images of powerful natural forces, suggesting a focus on the elemental and awe-inspiring aspects of the ocean's movements.

Themes:

1. Power of Nature: The poem explores the overwhelming power of nature, particularly embodied in the great tides of the ocean. These tides are depicted as immense, unstoppable forces that fill vast reaches under the influence of the North's wild blow.
2. Human Frailty: Despite the grandeur of nature, the poem highlights the limitations of human strength and agency. While the tides have the power to fill vast expanses and shape coastlines, they cannot spare a smaller cup from their salter overflow or lift a simple door-latch to allow a lad to enter.

Imagery:

1. Tides: The imagery of the tides conveys a sense of vastness, movement, and natural power. The poet uses this imagery to contrast the overwhelming force of the tides with the smallness of human-scale objects and actions.
2. Huge Hands: The reference to "huge hands" suggests the titanic strength of natural forces, such as those that shape coastlines and build bulwarks. This imagery underscores the contrast between the immense power of nature and the relative insignificance of human endeavors.

Contrasts:

1. The poem juxtaposes the grandeur of nature with the smallness of human existence, highlighting the disparity between the vast scale of natural phenomena and the mundane challenges of everyday life.
2. It contrasts the ability of great tides to fill vast reaches with their overflow with their inability to spare a smaller cup from their salter overflow or to perform a seemingly simple task like lifting a door-latch.

Language and Structure:

1. The language of the poem is simple yet evocative, using vivid imagery and concise phrasing to convey its message.
2. The poem is structured as a contemplative reflection, with each stanza presenting a contrast between the power of nature and the limitations of human agency.

Tone: The tone of the poem is contemplative and reflective, conveying a sense of wonder at the majesty of nature and a recognition of the humbling realities of human existence. There is a hint of resignation in the acknowledgment of human frailty in the face of natural forces.

Final Thoughts: "Great Tides" by Edwin John Dove Pratt is a thought-provoking meditation on the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Through its vivid imagery and poignant contrasts, the poem invites readers to contemplate the awe-inspiring power of nature and the humbling limitations of human agency. It serves as a reminder of the enduring majesty of the natural world and the smallness of human endeavors in comparison.

In conclusion, "Great Tides" offers a compelling exploration of the intersection between the grandeur of nature and the limitations of human existence. Through its evocative imagery and reflective tone, the poem invites readers to consider the vastness of natural forces and the ways in which they shape both the physical world and the human experience.