death's stillness The word sheet can be interpreted in two ways It may refer to the poet's bedsheet implying that the same fate awaits him as the deceased lover with death being the outstanding balance Alternatively a sheet may symbolize a shroud the cloth in which a deceased person is wrapped for burial The crooked worm is a powerful metaphor for decay and corruption It highlights the inevitable physical breakdown of the body after death as worms are commonly associated with the decay of organic matter These lines reflect Dylan Thomas's consideration of the unavoidable cycle of life and death It highlights the idea that regardless of one's passions desires or love everyone eventually surrenders to the same fate as represented by the relentless march of the crooked worm The poet's sense of powerlessness in conveying this truth adds a touch of melancholy It highlights the human struggle to come to terms with mortality and the mysteries of existence These lines serve as a bitter reminder of the fragility and impermanence of human life in the face of the eternal forces of nature