High School

What do the waves do to the footprints in these lines?

"The little waves, with their soft, white hands,
Efface the footprints in the sands."

Answer :

Final answer:

The waves, personified with soft, white hands, gently erase the footprints from the sand, highlighting the temporary nature of human presence against the constant and enduring force of nature.

Explanation:

In the given lines, "The little waves, with their soft, white hands, / Efface the footprints in the sands", the waves are personified and described as having soft, white hands that erase the footprints left on the sand.

This imagery suggests a gentle and continuous action, indicating that the waves act like hands gently wiping away the marks left by people on the beach, leaving a smooth surface behind.

This speaks to the impermanence of human impact when faced with the enduring forces of nature.