Death

Good work, a thought-provoking piece. I'm too cold-hearted and untouched by grief of my own to be emotionally moved by it, but I'm sure I would had I had to bury a close person.

Don't take the ratings harshly. It's not hugely original and it shouldn't be. It is an excellent specimen of it's type, however. Not whining and old clichés, but an own take on a common subject. The impact was lowered more by my receptivity than the piece.

Technique is high because the rythm is excellent. This is one of those poems I can't help but imagine read slowly by a deep solemn male voice. The points of stress also more often than not make themselves apparent on their own.

The few exceptions to the flow are:
- the last line of the second stanza. It doesn't rhyme and is too long. Either would do, but neither isn't enough.
- Excessive use of "which". Especially in "A sadness which we always have to bear?" In this case, you could simply remove it and it'd be better.
- The sixth stanza doesn't fit the general tone. It ascends too quickly into an almost cheery mood, and the last line also breaks the rhythm. I'd try "with renditions hard to understand".
- In the last stanza, there's a "what" in place of a "that". It is a grammatical error and not primarily a problem with rhythm, but as such it breaks the flow almost as much.

Don't be too deterred by my apparent harshness. The effect of even all those together is minor. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to poetry, which is why I don't like most of I come by. This I did, however, which is an achievement already.

I even have a favourite stanza, the fourth one. The same rhyme three times, coupled with the powerful theme and good rhythm makes it a true gem.

By the way, in case the term has other meanings (this one is of my own definition), by rhythm I mean how short and long words and syllables follow each other. Someone might say it correlates with "how well it could be sung". In this case, although not always with rhythm, I agree. This could almost as well be lyrics as poetry. To me, the flow (the difference is subtle and one I can't properly explain) is more important in that regard, and you keep it as well as the rhythm.