Dec 9, 2024
When People Ask How I'm Doing
by Rudy Francisco
I want to say, My depression is an angry deity, a jealous god, A thirsty shadow that rings my joy like a dishrag And makes juice out of my smile. I want to say, Getting out of bed has become a magic trick. I am probably the worst magician I know. I want to say, this sadness is the only clean shirt I have left and my washing machine has been broken for months, but I’d rather not ruin someone’s day with my tragic honesty so instead I treat my face like a pumpkin.
I pretend that it’s Halloween. I carve it into something acceptable. I laugh and I say, "I’m doing alright."
