I Am Not Okay Poem by Samuel Ndirangu

'It is okay, ' I tell myself
For a moment, I think that's true
But, wait, it ain't
It is all a lie.

I've been here for far too long
It is like a roller coaster hill
I climb and climb, waiting to see the peak
But never reaching the top.

I get up on a day and think
Well, it's up there
Evening comes and...wait! Still out of sight
I am still scaling that godforsaken hill.

I pant, as it takes my breath away
I feel it, yes! I feel it
Wearing my soul out
My streams run dry, I can't shed even a drop.

I fear, but no one knows
I am scared, but I can't show it
Yet I wish they realize how difficult it is to function
When you can't really say how you feel.

And here I am, exhausted
But I have to keep dodging their politely concerned gaze
As they ask me what's wrong
And I proclaim, 'it is okay'
Yet in my heart, 'I am dying'