Wodehouse Poems | Examples

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