Matilda died today

[Leah S.]

This is a good poem already. I decline to give you a detailed critique because I'm so moved. Later maybe. I do want to know her name sooner in the poem, I think it should be in the first line, really. There are a few places where I can't quite get the sense, but I believe they will be easy to fix. I looked up tangihanga because of this poem. Thank you.

Thanks for your read and comments. Her name is in the title of the poem.

Sorry, jumped straight to the poem. Just read your edit. I love this poem. I still don't want to critique it, because it made me cry, and also because your edit made significant improvements. The ending is like the turn in a sonnet. It really packs a punch, and the subtlety of the symbolism in the "comforter" never being lifted to let the world back in any more.....is eloquent.