How are you today God,
The thought entered my mind
To ask? I mean, with all the whining
One would think your only task
To answer prayers, humanity’s
Loyalty predicated on how completely
And dutifully fast. So, just
Want to say, take a day off...on
One of your tropical beaches perhaps sun
And rest – while I may not always behave
My best – I have come to realize, none-the-less
Throughout my life I have already been
Dearly loved regardless
And abundantly blessed.
Could be better
Could be worse
Not quite ready for
the casket & hearse
When you feel sick, shadows take their place,
I long to hold you, touch your gentle face.
Yet barriers rise, unseen but firm and tall,
They keep me distant, though I give my all.
I dream of walking through the stormy air,
To whisper comfort, show how much I care.
But fate erects a wall I cannot cross,
And every step feels heavy with its loss.
Still in my silence, prayers surround your bed,
Soft wings of hope will circle where you tread.
Though I am far, my spirit stays so near,
It fights the distance, conquers doubt and fear.
When sick fades, may sunshine warm your sky,
No chains, no walls, no shadows to deny.
For then, at last, my love will freely flow,
Beside your soul, the place I long to go.
Your are dressed up in cool nights and days,
Showing pretty colors always.
My
angel
how are you?
I am OK.
Wish you were here now,
I miss you very much.
Is heaven above the sky?
On the other side of the clouds?
Way up really - really high?
One day I hope to be up there with you.
For now I guess I am stuck here on earth.
Waiting to be with you everyday,
and with every long lonely night.
I love talking just to you.
Can you hear me talking?
I want to see you,
guess that must wait.
Wait for now.
Goodbye,
me.
How are you, today, God?
Just thought someone should ask.
I don’t mean like, a cold or flu…
but, wondering, do You ever get blue?
With so many world disappointments,
and endless prayer requests – if it
were me, my mind would be a dejected,
overworked mess! I truly wish I
could somehow lighten Your load --
would it brighten Your day a bit, if
I told You, that I’m sorry...and come back
to Jesus’ Fold?
though tis spoken when we meet,
begrudging, we mete
out cold, absent any meat
----------
A Ukiah, 7/5/7 with rhyme
How are you, I always say,
Let me tell you how I feel today.
In my heart, there's a bit of sadness,
Worries and decisions causing some stress.
Time's choices can be hard to bear,
Fading spirits, like a heavy air.
So, I keep asking, just to be clear,
How are you, my friend, my dear?
Life's a mystery, a little tough,
Yet, I'm here, never enough.
In my heart, the questions start,
How are you, are you playing your part?
they've also got a guest on
who suffers from, the inability to burp
he sounds so bored presenting
the thing
as i listen, i notice
the lid of the jar of the piccalilli
it states this condiment is,
'the life and soul of the pantry'
on google i look up images
of 19th century pantries
my wife comes in and asks what i
would like for xmas
i want a pantry
How am I feeling today?
It’s the best day I have ever had.
Better than any of my other tens of thousands of days.
How will you be feeling tomorrow?
Grateful to have a fresh, new, marvelous wonderful day.
It will be the best one then.
When I asked you how are you
I'm not talking about how you do
I'm talking about the real you
the inside part that makes you you
when I ask you how are you
I'm not talking about your day
I'm talking about the emotional things
that touch you in special ways
when I asked you how are you
I mean your core being
the things that keep you going
Without anyone ever seeing
When I asked you how are you
please trust to tell me the truth
Trust that I really care to listen
Don't disregard my question
But pour out everything that you have inside
You knowThat part you care to hide
from the world
with your man pride
When I asked you how are you
Don't dilute it with I'm good
but tell me the truth
Dear Friend, I need you friend
Sometimes I’m stressed like my life wanna end
Sometimes I’m messed up by enemies and fiends
But because say I got you your prayers defends
When you go come make we hang out friend
Hope you done pardon me for the times I offend
Well if not abeg make we amend
Our stories and gist no go come to an end
I no go ever forget you my friend
Tho we far apart like july and jan
And yes we dey match and our spark no be here
Like tomato and pepper, yes we dey blend
TBH right now I no dey fine
I done hustle for this music I done pay fine
It just be say the devil is holding what’s mine
But I pray that someday the sun’s gon’ shine
Really, How Are You?
The words took my breath away.
How long had it been
since anyone really cared?
Cared enough to ask.
Cared enough to mean it.
--How are you?
Three little words, harmless
meaningless without the pause.
There it was --
that pause awaiting the truth of an answer
and all at once, in my one gasp
so many telltale signs to rescue
at lightning speed threatening a betrayal --
my eyes, my mouth, my breath, my silence!
--How was I?
How, for so long, I had managed to avoid
asking that very question.
Truth was I didn’t want to know.
Content with carrying on, carrying on
with no analysis, no introspection.
My eyes welled, my throat tightened.
--How was I?
It was easier when no one cared and no one asked.
Now I’d have to let the dust settle…
and hope no one asks again.
AP: 3rd place 2022
Submitted on February 8, 2022 for contest PICK A TITLE sponsored by EDWARD IBEH - RANKED 2ND
and on October 11, 2025 for contest 2025 Poetry Marathon Mile 21 sponsored by MARK TONEY - RANKED 3RD
You ask me how I’m doing
What’s going on in my mind
So many thoughts are brewing
A question so poorly timed
Why ask if you don’t really care?
Should I answer truthfully
Or leave the canvas bare?
Your own image created beautifully
By not truly knowing my wear
The wear and tear of my soul
That very question ripping me apart
Not understanding the answer as a whole
How can I tell your naive little heart?
Can I tell you how I truly feel?
The thoughts inside, how they shred?
If I told you it would become to real
Too much for your to bear, left only for me to dread.
PANDEMIC
Don’t tell me you are fine
None of us is fine
we nod and smile
longing to chat.
More than anyone else I talk to my cat –
Even the geese down by the river
Listen
to what I have to say.
I had quite a conversation
this very day
With one who chattered back.
He cocked his head and listened to my candid response
His answer?
Don’t tell me you are fine
when none of us is fine.
we have tried to pass the days
in many and varied ways
But comes the time
When weariness crosses the line
And yet – we all say we are fine.
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