WhatIf?

At the beginning of the school year, Daria's teacher had a fun writing exercise. It is a WhatIf poem. The way it started and ended really spoke to me. The object was to write one real concern followed by a rhyming silly concern following the opening introduction. I had thought about writing my own WhatIf poem, but never got around to it. It may become a regular feature on my blog as I attempt to get back into the habit of writing. I miss it.

I really enjoyed Daria's WhatIf poem. I wanted to "publish" it back at the beginning of the year. I kept waiting...and waiting...for it to come home. Tonight, Daria placed a stack of papers on the counter to be recycled. I decided to see if there was anything in there that I wanted to keep. There, in that pile of recyclables, was Daria's What If poem. So here it is:

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
They sang their old Whatif song:

Whatif I don't do good in school?
Whatif I turn into a fool?
Whatif I get laughed at?
Whatif I get hit by a bat?
Whatif my teacher does not care?
Whatif I get chased by a bear?
Whatif I forgot my things?
Whatif Santa fails in all he brings?
Whatif I slip in the mud while I play?
Whatif the boogey man is here to stay?
Whatif our class becomes one girl less?
Whatif my room stays a mess?
Whatif I don't finish my homework on time?
Whatif eating ice cream was a crime?
Whatif I forgot my lunch?
Whatif marshmallows made a big crunch?
Whatif my mom forgets to pick me up?
Whatif a mouse ate a buttercup?
Whatif I get sick?
Whatif I jump to the ceiling and stick?

Everything seems swell, and then
The nighttime Whatif stricks again!
by Daria Brandt