I didn’t want to have to do it,

but they told me to be brave.

I said I shouldn’t have to do it,

and they called me misbehaved.

I don’t have to do it,

even though I sometimes do.

But today I can’t have to do it.

I have to stare at Flanagan’s shoe.

I am not a bopper.

I can’t just hip-hop from the top.

Because then I might keep on going

and never reach my stop.

If I have to do it,

and I know you think I do,

then when I have to do it,

can I do it my way too?

Because, yeah, I have to do it.

The world is full of shoulds.

But all those have-to-schmave-tos

steal away my coulds.

So today I am a mountain,

unmovable and tough.

If I’m going to have to do it,

today is just too rough.

With a little time,

your have-tos

might bump into

my coulds.

“I would if I could,”

said the Wouldchuck,

because the Wouldchuck

could always chuck would.

And the Wouldchuck

would chuck

all the would he could chuck

if the Wouldchuck felt understood.

By Mandy Parida