Stylistic Aspects:

Rhyme: There was a lot of rhyme used but the rhyme scheme was very random. The full rhyme scheme is: AABBBCCBBDDBBBEEEBAABBBB. The rhyme makes the poem easier to read and gives it a steady rhythm amidst all the confusing rhymes at different times caused by repetition.

Structure and Repetition: The lines are fairly equal but the only thing that stands out is the line “Dance me to the end of love” which is repeated 10 times throughout the 25 lined poem. The word dance also appears in most of the lines which makes the poem stronger and more emotional. The whole poem is packed into a single stanza which shows that this poem has one single subject and does not need any pauses.

Symbolism + Second Impression: The phrase “The End of Love” basically means war and death from what I think. The title and most used line : “Dance Me To The End Of Love” most likely means cherish the final moments until war begins. From what I know couples in the Nazi Concentration Camps would dance and sing before they were burned to ashes. This is the reason of the “Dance me to the end, with a burning violin”. The burning violin could be the sound a furnace makes while they were dancing and singing right next to it.

The woman there might be pregnant with more than one child which makes her useless to any labor camp in the Concentration camp which then leads to her execution in the camp. This explains the line: “Dance me to the children who are asking to be born”. “Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove” – This specific line is probably after she has died in the furnace in which the husband touches her dead body with his hand or glove. “Dance me through the panic ’til I’m gathered safely in” – This line is probably when she is dancing and panicing that she is going to die but she finally dies and has nothing to worry about anymore. “Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn” – This line, I think, might be when her final shelter is the old, ripped body bag.

Imagery: The imagery used in here is also strong, the poem gives you a strong sense of love and the tragedy the couple will face and the aftermath. The burning violin was also a very strong image and the children awaiting to be born is also very strong.

Rating: I would personally rate it a 9/10 because of the emotion and love the couples have until the very end. Even though her body looks nasty and dead her husband still cherishes the moment with her until they are fully separated. Her husband would comfort her and that would be very emotional and the powerful side of love is very well described. The only thing about this poem, is that it is too open and hardly has a specific topic. This poem might be harder to deduct for some people. This poem can me interpreted in many different angles which then causes disagreement between the critics.