“How are you?”
I ask,
and they go on and on and on.
I didn’t really want to hear the response–
just wanted it to be asked back to me.
So I listen, trying to feign attention,
waiting for my turn
to be asked and to respond
because I have something to say,
but I can’t say it yet.
And maybe I
am a terrible person
for using this conversation
solely as a way to talk about me.
And here I go again,
thinking about myself
rather than listening to their answer.
Their voice is droning–
no, mind, stop that.
They are just talking,
just like I asked them to.
And I am waiting for my turn.
The answer lasts and lasts
until they glance at their phone,
my, they lost track of the time.
They thank me for the conversation,
apologize for the abrupt ending,
say that they are going to be late.
They wish me farewell,
then they walk away.
That night in the mirror
I ask,
“How are you?”
But I can’t stand the asker
and I can’t stand the answer,
so I just walk away.
Photo by Arley Bateca from Pexels
The Yellow Brick Ave 
This is so sad, and very relatable. Such a poignant piece.
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Thanks, Mike
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How are you, Joy?
-David
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I am actually doing well right now, David. How are you?
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I’m a’ight 🙂
No major news on my end. Mostly just enjoying watching my daughter grow up ❤
-David
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i said jesus lady not over yer head
rather again and again
past pains
no reason
not to say ok john
did you take all yer meds
hell yois joy i did indeed.!
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Have you faced the mirror?
Have you gazed into the windows to your soul?
Past the condensation of personal bias?
Beyond the depth of comfortable observation?
Deep within to the who and what you are?
We humans are beautiful creatures
once we wipe away the clouds of comparison to other people’s opinions.
Past preconceived conditions.
We are light, There are no exceptions.
How are you, is always important.
How are you, is always a passing condition.
Who and what you are is eternal.
(Pardon me if I’ve overstepped)
The greatest gift we can give ourselves is unconditional love.
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I agree with most of what you said, Kevin. Thank you for your comment!
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That was heartbreaking, just like watching the spark leave someone’s eye. Hope your day actually went better than that!
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Yes, this was more of a reflection than an experience I was currently going through.
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That’s good! And like one nice soul told me once, you can always rant to your internet acquaintances if it does get bad.
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I very much appreciate that
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The verse was so excellent that it drowns any sadness.
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Thank you!
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Well,some call it droning away,some may call it “talking”,as you described above,in the end,its all about perspective,and the happening happens 😄. Nice poem!
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Thank you!
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