John -
I've read this several times today and I'm sure I'll read it a few more tomorrow. All I can tell you at this point is that if I had purchased a book that had this poem in it, I'd consider my money well spent.
When I lived in Chester County, we had a neighbor who raised sheep, spun their wool and made a few sweaters for sale at Christmas, at least one of which came with a list of the names of each of the sheep who contributed to it. I could pass my eyes and hands over the wool and feel the different textures just as I saw the changes in color and marvel (there's no better word for it) at the way everything came together as both a whole thing and a collection of parts.
This poem strikes me in much the same way. In it dying is shared at the same time it is unique to each individual who dies. Nothing is static, even as the principal characters observe the flows of other souls who move from somewhere to somewhere else.
Like I already said, this one is worth the money.
JB
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