A life full of red herrings
Misdirection left and right
The shoulds crop up — they’re stinking
Misguiding smell and sight
You shoulda done this, you shoulda done that
Path strewn with stinking fish
I look around and listen
But can’t say what I wish
No one has lived my life but I
And I’ve lived it best I could
I say to those who shoulda me –
Have you stood where I’ve stood?
In truth, I do not say those words
But I struggle ‘neath the weight
For had I chosen different paths
What would be my fate?
Honestly I embrace my life
With all its faults and flaws
And when someone says shoulda
I just take a breath and pause
Write a poem that gives voice to what is usually left unsaid — a buried truth, a silenced voice, a hidden struggle, or the quiet ache of the heart. Let your words speak for what the world tends to overlook: an internal conflict, a marginalized experience, a truth tucked between breaths.
You may write from personal experience, an imagined lens, or even embody the voice of an inanimate object or force of nature. All forms and lengths are welcome — whether you choose free verse, haiku, sonnet, prose poetry, or something entirely your own.
Optional: Weave in metaphors of sound, silence, echoes, or resonance to deepen your imagery.
This prompt invites vulnerability, transformation, and truth-telling. Let your poem be a space where the unspeakable is finally heard.
This is my response to the W3 prompt. No one should look back at their life with shoulds. (See what I did there?)
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
Excellent poem Sally
I love that you used the truth between breaths metaphor! Really tight rhyme too and it just flows!!! 😍💖🌷
I agree – shoulda, woulda, coulda – oughta be forbidden… 💞
Sally, the way you embrace your flaws speaks to me—it’s a quiet strength in the face of “shoulds.”
~David
Great poem, Sally! I love its message!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
hi, Sally 🙃
Just wanna let you know that this week’s W3, hosted by our beloved Carol Anne is now live:
Enjoy❣️
Much love,
David
well written.
hi, Sally 😍
This week’s W3, hosted for the very first time by Di (Pensitivity101), is now live:
https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/04/30/w3-prompt-157-weave-written-weekly/
Enjoy❣️
~David
I don’t know how I missed this. What a wonderful decision to come to- and I liked the thought process involved in getting you there.