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Feb 16, 2026
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Another Planet
I remember getting the news of my mother’s passing.
It was sudden and unexpected. I sat in our yard, numb.
After a while, I poured myself a tall whiskey,
hoping it might replace the tears leaving my body.
I wished I were on a different planet.
One where you always get to say goodbye
before someone leaves it.
Back here on Earth, I took another sip
and tried to understand the cruelty of farewells
and the way we sometimes have to do things here.
— Michael Anthony, Feb 16, 2026
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About This Poem
Style/Type: Free verse
Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Editing Stage: Polished draft
Critiques
Geezer
3 months 3 weeks ago
I cannot...
imagine a way to improve on this piece. I'm sure that if I thought long and hard about it, I could make it into some kind of formal kind or type of poetry; I don't think that it would do anything for the piece.
I was struck by how different my mother's passing was and had the knowledge that she was ready.
My grandmother on the other hand, was a shock to me: I was twelve and seen death before with a favored aunt, [her sister] but Grandma? Gosh... So, I totally get this one, leave it as it is. ~ Geez.
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Michael Anthony
3 months 3 weeks ago
Thanks for sharing your…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this piece, Geez. I always appreciate it. I've no doubt the sentiments could be expressed much more poetically than my meager efforts (and certainly have been elsewhere). Given my poetry wheelhouse is prose, this will have to suffice - cheers
Geezer
3 months 3 weeks ago
Suffice?...
more than...
~ Geez.
.
Lavender
3 months 2 weeks ago
Another Planet
Hello, Michael,
Well done.
L
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