Hey, spaulphil. First of all let me welcome you to WDC. I found your item while doing search for the "essays". Before I begin my review, please note that these are my views as a reader and are not meant to offend in any manner.


I usually do not read or review essays. They seem too boring to me. But I must say your essay surprised me. It does not preach in a preachy manner, instead it took me to the heart of the situation by showing me a neighborhood and people's reactions to the death. I agree with most of the things you said. Death may mark an ending of a life for the people still living on the earth, but it also marks the beginning of a new journey, a journey to heaven or a new life. My mother says something about all these rituals. "Life does not stop when one dies." We should not mourn death instead celebrate life.


It is mostly a very well-edited piece. I still have few suggestions for you.

1) Not so with the young urchins at one house along the way. ~ I did not get the meaning of "one house" here. Are you talking about a particular building or just any house down the road?

2) And, if we had no hope past our last breath in this life ~ I was equally confused by this sentence. What did you want to express by this? Is it that even though we know there is life after death, we are not ready to go past the hush about dying. It is not very clear.


I loved the way you used the instance or the "urchins" to show us the celebration of life.


The essay conveys a very poignant message. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks a lot for sharing it. Wish you all the best.

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My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .