Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda

Last summer I joined a few local writers in forming a writers group. Our first meetings were small, informal and pretty much by invitation only. We wanted to test the waters, see what our goals were, see where we wanted this group to end up before we went public.

Our first public meeting was Wednesday. By early afternoon, a migraine was taking up residency in my head; I was not too happy about that, but more unhappy that I didn’t feel I would be up to conferring with fellow writers. I got home from work, called to cancel and crawled into bed.

The last time we met, we threw out the idea of a writing prompt – write about this topic and bring it to the next meeting. The prompt we came up with was to use the terms “woulda, shoulda, coulda”. I must admit, I didn’t let out all the stops on my creativity when I wrote my piece. Instead of my own words, someone else’s words kept popping into my head as I tried to write about things I could have done or should have done. My own words ended up very small and inadequate, so maybe it’s just as well that I didn’t make the meeting. Their gain, is your loss. Isn’t that how the saying goes?

Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair.

I envied her, she seemed so gay, and wished I was as fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle.

She had one leg and wore a crutch. And as she passed... a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 legs, the world is mine

I stopped to buy some candy. The lad who sold it had such charm.

I talked with him, he seemed so glad. If I were late, it'd do no harm.

And as I left, he said to me, "I thank you, you have been so kind.

It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.

He stood and watched the others play. He did not know what to do.

I stopped a moment and then I said, "Why don't you join the others, dear?"

He looked ahead without a word. And then I knew, he couldn't hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I have 2 ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go.

With eyes to see the sunset's glow.

With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine........

(The above poem is not mine; I’ve had it written down on a yellow piece of paper for the last 40 years. Some sources credit this poem to Red Foley, others continue to say the author is unknown. All I can add to it are these brief, insufficient words.)

I wish I woulda,

I think I shoulda,

I know I coulda,

But I didn’t

I whined instead.