What is the main theme of the poem "The Sea" by J Reeves?

"The Sea" by James Reeves is rich in imagery and in
creative metaphorical relations made between the sea and the idea of a dog. The poem is
not, however, rich in theme. In discussing the formal theme of the poem, we can simply
point to central comparison made in the poem that identifies the sea as being akin to a
dog. 

The sea
is a hungry dog, 
Giant and grey.
He rolls on the beach all
day.

Formally speaking, the
theme of "The Sea" is highly focused on the equivalency between the sea and the idea of
a dog. The sea experiences joy and feels forlorn. It is happy and it is lazy,
etc. 

To look at the intellectual or semantic themes of the
poem, we might assess the poem's comment on the sea as an emotional being. The sea, as a
representative of nature (or the natural world), is a living thing with passions and
joys and moods. 

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And when the night wind
roars
[...]
He bounds to his feet and snuffs and
sniffs, 
[...]

And howls and hollos long and
loud.

With this
personification of nature, the poem may be suggesting that the world around us can be
engaged in some ways as if it were alive, awake and aware. We might consider the whims
of nature and its appetites as elements to be feared and appreciated and recognize that
creatures with appetites can be unpredictable.  

We might
also read the poem as implying that the sea is only a small part of a larger natural
system and therefore is subject to forces beyond its control just as we are -- or just
as a dog might be. The sea experiences the weather and the sunshine and reacts. It may
be huge and powerful but the sea is not in command of hot and cold, of rain or
sunshine. 

These readings are available in the poem, yet
the overall sense the poem projects is one of camaraderie and understanding. The voice
of the poem is less awed by the sea than it is sympathetic with the playfulness and
lonesomeness of the sea.