The title "A Word is dead" is a metaphor. The metaphor creates a relationship between the words: Word and dead. The structure of the title underlines the words "Word" and "dead". The word "Word" is highlighted by capital letters. The word "dead" is highlighted because it is in the last place in the sentence. In the title the word "Word" is personified. It does a typical action of living beings: dies.

Apparently the poem consists in a single stanza, but there are two parts. The are six lines organized into two triplets.

All the lines are very short. This created a slow reading.

The words are simple, they are used to be read by a wide audience.

In the first part the narrator speaks in the third person, in the second one the narrator speaks into the first person: there are two points of view.

What makes the reader understand that the first part is written in the third person are the words: some say" into the third line. What makes the reader understand that the second part is written in the first person is the word "I" in the fourth line.

In the first part there is the opinion of the normal people. They think that a word dies when it is used.The first and the second line there are the alliteration of the sound D. It's a dental sound then locks the reading. This meaning is linked to the death. In the third line there is the alliteration of the sound S. It is a liquid sound that helps the reader to read.

The two parts of the poem are connected by the repetition of the verb "say". This creates an assonance that draws attention of the reader on the different points of view. In the second part is in fact described the point of view of the poet. The poet sums up all the people who know the literature. According to them, when a word is spoken or written does not exhaust its function. It begins to live in the memory of those who have listen or read. The poet expresses the lifecicle of the word.

The poet has used the rhythmic pattern A - A - B - C - D - B.

The rhyme creates a relationship between the words. When the word is pronounced it dies. The action of say the word causes its death. The second rhyme emphasize the diversity. The second part of the poem is defined: the reader knows when, who and what. The firts part is more abstract. The words: when, just, begins, that day are part of the semantic fiels of the time. The life is triggered by the time, but no the poem. The poem is not having time so it doesn't die. The word equal the poem: it can not die.