Coulda Shoulda Woulda

I passed a man on his bike
pulling the cart where sat the mongrels
his sign flapping in the wind
its strings about to break
faded letters imploring
I'm broke and in the dog house
his smile belying the flat tires
carrying him past my eyes
that shoulda seen enough to stop
I had two dollars fully inflated

I walked til the tall grass moved
the mouse was frozen
the cat waited body slung low
the moment near
I shoulda clapped
a simple yell would do
but I ignored the life once running
now only a final gasp as tail disappears beneath whiskers

I stood at checkout
my basket rainbowed by fruit and wine
my impatience waned
as she wept and left
her credit over used
her groceries restocked
I coulda reached
I didn't need the wine

Tomorrow I'll wake
let beads of water wash away the
shouldas
couldas
towel myself dry
note another hair in the sink
squeeze shut my eyes
and don yet another day of cloth adorned nakedness

Later I'll walk
hoping once again for wouldas
as my fingers roll
fuz balls deep in my pockets
til I fill them once more
with surviving myself