Help "Theres been a death, in the Opposite House"

I need to write a short analysis about this poem.

There's been a Death, in the Opposite House,
As lately as Today --
I know it, by the numb look
Such Houses have -- alway --

The Neighbors rustle in and out --
The Doctor -- drives away --
A Window opens like a Pod --
Abrupt -- mechanically --

Somebody flings a Mattress out --
The Children hurry by --
They wonder if it died -- on that --
I used to -- when a Boy --

The Minister -- goes stiffly in --
As if the House were His --
And He owned all the Mourners -- now --
And little Boys -- besides --

And then the Milliner -- and the Man
Of the Appalling Trade --
To take the measure of the House --

There'll be that Dark Parade --

Of Tassels -- and of Coaches -- soon --
It's easy as a Sign --
The Intuition of the News --
In just a Country Town --

I understand that the poem is about the ways you can tell if someone is dead without actually knowing for sure. The only thing I dont understand is the part about the Milliner. I also dont understand the part where it says "I used to -- when a Boy". Can someone help me please? Thanks.

Hi,
Here is my notes of the poetry in my Korean translation (today in my blog)...

----(notes):
- measure of the House: measure of the coffin (by Kim)
- I used to -- when a Boy: She(E.D.) draws on the persona of a boy. (by Kim)
- easy as a Sign: 쉬
(예): For one thing, I take writing being easy as a sign that writers find it safe to respond honestly and critically to material that I present.


Good luck !!

-Kim

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lost Sound

I need to write a short analysis about this poem.

There's been a Death, in the Opposite House,
As lately as Today --
I know it, by the numb look
Such Houses have -- alway --

The Neighbors rustle in and out --
The Doctor -- drives away --
A Window opens like a Pod --
Abrupt -- mechanically --

Somebody flings a Mattress out --
The Children hurry by --
They wonder if it died -- on that --
I used to -- when a Boy --

The Minister -- goes stiffly in --
As if the House were His --
And He owned all the Mourners -- now --
And little Boys -- besides --

And then the Milliner -- and the Man
Of the Appalling Trade --
To take the measure of the House --

There'll be that Dark Parade --

Of Tassels -- and of Coaches -- soon --
It's easy as a Sign --
The Intuition of the News --
In just a Country Town --

I understand that the poem is about the ways you can tell if someone is dead without actually knowing for sure. The only thing I dont understand is the part about the Milliner. I also dont understand the part where it says "I used to -- when a Boy". Can someone help me please? Thanks.

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Well, this poem was written in the 18th century..so what we have to understand that death was handled differently back then...so a milliner is a person who would come and make a suit or a dress for the deceased person.
"I used to--when a Boy" tells you two things that the speaker in the poem is a man and that he did the same thing that the children did.

This poem confuses me, is there or is there not a rhyme shceme?