"are you okay?"
they ask.
but you know that they don't care
they only ask
for proprietary's sake
not for worry how you fair.

"are you okay?"
you ask.
though do you really wish to know?
would you be prepared for honesty,
for an answer more than, "fine."
that's a beat for the social tempo?

"are you okay?"
i ask.
to a face of comprehended woe.
i know the answer yet
i ask because i understand
the answer will never be, "no".

"are you okay?"
ask all to all.
yet no one truly wants to hear-
the truth, so we lie
we all always lie.
and swallow back the tears.