We Are Not Okay

A poem to express my current feelings as an essential worker during the pandemic.

They ask, “Are you okay?” And what they want to hear is, “I’m fine.” But I’m not “fine.” None of us are fine. We are not okay.

It’s been over a year now. Stress, anxiety, fear, worry, exhaustion - It’s a constant, vicious, never-ending cycle. It feels like there’s no escape. We are not okay.

So when they ask how I’m doing, I say, “I’m hanging in there.” To pretend I’m fine would be a lie. My coworkers are right there with me - We are all at the end of our ropes. We are not okay.

How much longer will this last? I think that’s my biggest worry. We can’t keep doing this indefinitely. We’re going non-stop, and it’s taking a heavy toll. We are not okay.

We are not okay…. but I have to believe that things will get better.