The Word If Poem by Francis Duggan

If the king were born a girl the king would be a queen
And if there was sufficent rainfall the brown hill would look green
But 'if' it is an obsacle that always gets in the way
And if is quite a common word an excuse word one might say.

If Aunty Rose was born a boy she would be uncle Joe
And if an apple grew on a blackthorn tree the apple would be a sloe
But the word if though often used does not change reality
And oranges they do not grow on an avocado tree.

If the favourite did not stumble she would have won the race
Through ill luck not by faster horses she was done out of a place
If always used by punters when they have lost their bet,
If is their consolation word to soften their regret

At having lost their wager the word if softens the blow
But no if for the winners they can afford to crow
But the word if though said a million times does not change the reality
Of the result as it happened something that was meant to be.