A Riddle For Today

Could I Be It?

A Riddle for Today

When I was just a little Tike, many years ago
Riddles were the game to play if the answer you knew.
My friends knew they had me since my reading was quite slow
The riddle they asked was “What’s the longest word.” Do you know?
Out came the dictionary since it had the answer I knew
I just had to find it by counting the letters threw.
I came back with the word, the longest I could find
But they came back with laughter saying "You're wrong”
They knew, of course, the longest word was "rubber" because it stretched so
Now today the riddle on every ones heart is what to do with guns
Since those 17 lay so still.
My riddle bears answering if we all will dare.
What are the saddest words now to be known?
When we are finished reading this through
They will be known.

If I was the preschooler who failed to let him play with me
Then my finger was on the trigger with his.
If I, in elementary school together were not friends still
Then my finger was on the trigger with his.
If l in High school avoided him because he was not "cool"
Then my finger was on the trigger with his.
If I was once his teacher even with 30 other kids, and couldn't notice his sadness
Then my finger was on the trigger with his.
If l was a principal but not a pal to notice his needs
Then my finger was on the trigger with his.
If I, with my education, learning and authority said, he doesn't fit in here
Than my finger was on the trigger with his.
And now I am almost finished but can you give me the answer to my riddle?
What are the saddest words of all?
Yes, "If I".
Larry E. Whittington Saturday, February 17, 2018