Some Choice Responses to “How Are You?”

Image © Unsplash/Des Récits

i’m fine
i’m good
can’t complain
same old
i’m fine

except:
not really, but

what else is there to say?

any other permutation of
variation of a response risks you
peering curiously, perilously,
through the smudged window only to
spot my feelings piling up in the sink
and my laundry list of laments sitting
unattended.

so,
let us try again:

i’m fine
the usual
i’m okay
i’m alright
i’m fine