I Should Have I Could Have I Would Have Poem by Shalom Freedman

I vowed I would not say my father's famous words
'I should have could have I would have '
I do not know if I want to say them now
But somewhere in me is some longing unrealized
Some dream unreached
Some hope untouched-

'I could have done better
I could have worked harder
I should have been more conscientious
I should have tried to make money
I should have found the way to hold it all together once long ago
I should have concentrated on works of thought
I should have found a way in writing which would truly help others
I should have been kinder
I should have had the guts to say what I really think and feel about many things
I should have loved more
I should have taught my children in a better way
I should have been a stronger person'

But all the shoulds and all the coulds and all the woulds
What do they amount to?

I am here now
Who knows how much time left
Let me do the best I can
To help those I love
To try to serve God
in whatever small way I can