It’s Okay To… be real

By Erin Dooley, Research Associate, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

I’ve been enjoying this blog, and I think it’s such a good idea. It has been very thought-provoking, and I’ve been using ‘It’s okay’ just as a mantra when things don’t seem to go right. Not being much of a blog writer, I wrote a poem. I do think that maybe some ‘It’s okay’ poems and artwork from other members of staff would be great, especially since we’re coming up to one year of COVID, and I think that a lot of colleagues are more and more reflective.


It’s okay to rise and fall like the new circadian rhythm, beat, beat,
banging to a totally different drum

It’s okay to preen and pat that unruly coif, just at the front, appeasing the webcam gods,
hair washed last Tuesday (or maybe it was Monday?); a hairband, a hat, the filter of a sullen cat

It’s okay to shed a tear, mourn the lost year, the fear,
the fear of dying alone or forever wed to your mobile phone

It’s okay to skip a meal, or maybe eat more, at the table, off the floor,
imbibe before the flickering box, in greying pants and threadbare socks

It’s okay to let your polish chip, your morale to dip,
to love that one long hair growing above your lip

It’s okay to take comfort in unruly brows and frequent scowls,
avoid the outdoor space and crowds

It’s okay to find a different self, beneath the mask, to question all and ask, ask, ask ‘Why?’

And be sure to reply ‘It’s okay’.

 

2 thoughts on “It’s Okay To… be real

  1. Thanks, Erin. Your blog post has made me smile. Love the poem (and the selfie with Koala)!
    Wishing you all the best. April.

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