How Are You?
By luigi_pagano
- 1339 reads
When somebody asks ‘How are you?’
the usual answer should be ‘Very well’,
not ‘I’m suffering from a dose of flu’
or ‘The hot weather makes my feet swell’.
It is a rhetorical question, nothing more;
it does not mean that one wants to hear
that you have the gout and you feel sore
or that your skin irritation will not clear.
Don’t mention that you have rheumatoid
or that your cough gets worse by the day;
they are the topics that you must avoid:
just reassure the interlocutor you’re OK.
Change the subject and talk of the climate,
it is less controversial and more neutral;
few generalisations should be adequate
to make the conversation not so crucial.
© Luigi Pagano 2008
- Log in to post comments
Comments
So true... I can never resist
So true... I can never resist saying "yoou don't really want to know..." and if I am feeling in need of attention I tell them anyway.
I do admire your work and anything that resonates in my mind I usually love. Thank you for this piece of work.
- Log in to post comments
'Not too bad!' 'Coping' 'Ups
'Not too bad!' 'Coping' 'Ups and Downs' 'Nothing worth discussing now!' 'Lots to be thankful for' 'Been a bit low, but thankfully got over the worst' 'Well, we all have our troubles!' 'Pretty good, thanks!' … … ???! Rhiannnon
- Log in to post comments
I'm sure they mostly don't
I'm sure they mostly don't want to know, Luigi, but some people genuinely do, and I think you can tell the difference.
I enjoyed your poem.
How are you, by the way?
- Log in to post comments