social commentary
There's a rich history of poetry serving as social commentary, intended to inspire calls to action.
How are you?. Runner-Up in Say It Again Challenge. Top Story - July 2026.
How are you? they spill barely pronouncing the words proud of themselves for doing their part How are you? they mutter not out of interest but because the world has told them it’s impolite to talk about themselves before getting these words out of the way How are you? they read their compulsory line trusting you to honour the unwritten rule and answer correctly How are you? they mumble already hearing the "fine" in their minds any other answer a statistical improbability and a major inconvenience How are you? they ask already rehearsing the delivery of their own news in their heads How are you? "Oh me? I’m just a girl, wearing my smile like a borrowed coat. It suits me well, yet I can’t wait to take it off. How am I, you ask? I’m like a yellow birch leaf in November, still holding on. Mourning each and every sun ray I've ever taken for granted. You wanna know how I am? I’m like a cubed wrinkly potato floating in an under-seasoned protein-lacking soup you make two days before payday. I’m like the E in 'blue', like the B in 'doubt', and the fucking L in 'salmon'—still here and theoretically necessary, yet only paid attention to mistakenly." You hear your mind race. Your slight sigh goes unnoticed and you deliver your perfect "I’m fine." then add with a rehearsed, polished-to-perfection smile, "How are you ?"
By Cristal S.3 months ago in Poets
