In honour of World Mental Health Day 2021 I thought I would write a poem on the theme of asking twice - a second 'how are you' can make all the difference....
'Yes thanks, I'm fine'
I hear myself using the same old line
When all I want to do is scream
Or shout or cry
So why do I always reply
With 'Yes thanks, I'm fine?'
'Are you ok?'
They often say
And I want to tell them no
I want them to understand
But it's easier if they just go
Away, so I just tell them that I'm fine
Fine! It's never really true
And it doesn't matter who
Is asking, that's my response
It's just my norm
And even though I'm torn
Apart, I always say I'm fine
But fine for me is not ok
Although I would never say
But maybe next time ask again
Because somehow maybe then
I'd know you'd know
That 'I'm fine' isn't always so
