The current debut study examines the motif of death as central to Tom French's Touching the Bones, where it serves as both a literal and symbolic force, shaping each poem's exploration of loss, memory, and the passage of time. Through stark and poignant imagery, French examines the impact of death on individuals and communities, from family members and close friends to historical and cultural figures. The poems traverse the intimate, personal grief of a mother mourning her drowned child to the collective sorrow of animals encountering the bones of a fallen companion, underscoring the universality of loss. French's vivid portrayals extend beyond physical death to encompass metaphorical "deaths"—such as the lives of unskilled laborers trapped in a state of stagnation, and the fading cultural identities of Ireland's past. This collection captures a spectrum of responses to death, reflecting on themes of transience, dignity, and the resilience of memory. In Touching the Bones, French transforms death from a singular end into a continuous presence, subtly woven into the fabric of human existence, serving as both a reminder of life's impermanence and an invitation to honor what endures.