Inaccurate Grading

 

What do we really mean

When responding

To a simple question like

“How are you doing?”

 

A grading of oneself

That is inaccurate indeed

For the enquire goes away

With an inadequate feed.

 

Here are some examples,

Quite a few

That are used from time to time

By mainly you.

 

Not good or not so well

But still walking around,

And the way it is usually said

Kind o’ pulls one down.

 

Not bad and not too bad

Are grades that indicate good

If you see what I mean

And I think you should.

 

But let me explain

For those who cannot,

When the response is not bad

Say good and stop.

 

Not too bad

Speaks to some degree of bad,

Maybe they are recovering

From something they had.

 

Often, they mean good

But just would not say,

Perhaps, rather than being positive,

Negativity is their way.

 

In keeping in this trend

There is, not good enough

Or some may even say no worse

To indicate it’s still rough.

 

Almost like fifty-fifty

That can go either way

So that the enquire is still not sure

Regarding their day.

 

I am getting there

And I must ask, where?

Please don’t think I’m peculiar:

That isn’t fair.

 

Getting better

I can almost understand,

There is some positivity here

Even though not grand.

Betwixt and between

Or simply struggling

Is like, I am really not too sure

Where this is going.

 

Vacillating maybe

Meaning to say up-and-down,

You’ll not be surprised tomorrow

If I am not around.

 

Then there is not too well

Indicating some degree of well

But at the same time seems to say

I really cannot tell.

Like passing good

As though good is a place

But whether going to or away from

It’s difficult to trace.

 

If there is a passing good

Then there is a passing fail

But such an argument, I guess,

Would be to no avail.

 

It could be better

I'm sure you have heard,

As well as it could be worse

Fits all in the world.

Sounds rather consolatory

But leaves one guessing

Concerning how that respondent

Is doing or feeling.

 

Fairly good and fairly well

I have left for the last

Hoping when you read this poem

You will give me a pass.

 

Stewart Russell © April 7, 2025