Josie Holford is this week’s poet-of-the-week for the W3 Poetry Prompt #192, and she invites us to write a poem (up to 20 lines) as a conversation, text thread, or inner dialogue.
Josie’s prompt is inspired by Frank O’Hara’s “Metaphysical Poem”, where nothing is decided and the talk itself becomes the drama…
Read the prompt guidelines and Frank O’Hara’s poem here.
Write a poem (up to 20 lines) as a conversation, text thread, or inner dialogue. Let the two voices go back and forth — negotiating, hesitating, contradicting — but never quite landing on a plan. Play with repetition and everyday details to build tension and show who these people are. Slip in small observations that make the moment feel real. And when you get to the end… leave it unresolved.
The tone is totally up to you: playful, awkward, intimate, ironic, or intense.
Optional: if you want, lean into O’Hara’s loose, casual rhythm.
‘Metaphysical Poem’ by Frank O’Hara
When do you want to go
I’m not sure I want to go there
where do you want to go
any place
I think I’d fall apart any place else
well I’ll go if you really want to
I don’t particularly care
but you’ll fall apart any place else
I can just go home
I don’t really mind going there
but I don’t want to force you to go there
you won’t be forcing me I’d just as soon
I wouldn’t be able to stay long anyway
maybe we could go somewhere nearer
I’m not wearing a jacket
just like you weren’t wearing a tie
well I didn’t say we had to go
I don’t care whether you’re wearing one
we don’t really have to do anything
well all right let’s not
okay I’ll call you
yes call me
I hope you enjoy my interpretation of Josie’s prompt.
I’ve Always Wanted To Do This
Do you mind?
No, not at all
Don’t look behind,
or down
you might fall
Be kind and let me through
Please do
by all means
old chap,
but be careful
you don’t want a mishap
I’ve always wanted to do this
and have a go
well, don’t you know!
so have I
Shall we do it together?
hmm, let’s… pass it by—
do something else instead
we don’t want to die
well said
—Lesley Scoble, December 2025
Song – I’ve Always Wanted To Do This 🎶
Thank you
Thank you, Josie, for your inspirational prompt.
Thanks also to David for hosting his W3 Poetry Prompts each week.
To explore more poetry and prompts check out David’s site by following this link.
And above all, thank you, dear reader, for spending time with my poem.
As it’s New Years’s Day, all that remains is to wish you health and happiness in 2026.
Happy New Year!
LesleyScoble.com 
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