Do Not Resuscitate Comments

This, Michael, is an extremely honest look at the two participants of death - the one dying and the one left behind. Having been there, I know sometimes that the only way we can cope with death is to laugh out loud! And then we feel guilty for laughing...but if we are lucky, the one dying would know - and understand. Scarlett

It's wierd experiencing someone passing. I watched my mother in law pass with quiet calm only a death rattle at the very end. I saw her younger brother pass 2 weeks ago from the same cancer screaming in pain then quietly no sound just shallow breathing at the end. Death has it's own signature.

Wow, this poem was very emotional to me and the details were on point, you kept me interested, not one boring sentence. Well done!

You made me 'remember'. Very effective. As usual - fabulous.

Good poem! The title and the mineshaft metaphor were particularly intriguing. Regards, Stephen Parnell

Thanks John, you were right. I took you suggestion.

Michael...this is a fine poem. It's a gift from the heart. It gets to the pain and stays with it. My only suggestion is to cut the line 'in the suspended logic of hope.' It is too abstract and it tries to explain something about the poem. It took me away from the raw, sensitive feelings and the location in the poem. That's my two cents.

The pain here is palpable. Hard to read. But there truly is laughter at unexpected times, and yes I believe sometimes those hard in life are also unwilling to let death take them. This is a fine poem, Michael. Raynette

there's much sadness in the poem but there is also dignity and victory.

THe subject of the poem is one thing- but the poem itself has life! Well done!