Second Conditional

Grammar Series SECOND CONDITIONAL If I were a gambling man as my sin; (I confess an occasional flutter) Then if I had an acceptable win, I would buy myself some new schmutter * Note: it would make my verse more refined If instead of "if I..." I wrote "we're I" and "had I" Then perhaps The Immortal Bard would not mind And Jane Austin would give me the glad eye While I may forgive modern language’s slur Wanting that which is sadly defunct, if We avoid "if I was", rather say: "if I were" Mindful that we are using subjunctive Now the First Conditional suits admonishment By uncles from Amsterdam, Delft or Utrecht ** While the Third is rueful and penitent For sins of commission or those of neglect But the Second tops my panoply And it always has me beguiled Inspiring creativity, phantasy And imagination run wild E.G. Had I the combined wit of Wodehouse, and Wilde I would put my pen to write such a tale That would make the face of God crack a smile And the heavens to burst in a giggling gale