Monday 1 October 2012

If – Rudyard Kipling




IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
This poem by Rudyard Kipling was voted the UK's favourite in 1995!

5 comments:

  1. I love this poem and memorized it nearly 10 years ago when I was going through an especially hard time in my life. I still keep a copy folded up in my purse and pull it to ponder and recite while walking.

    IF is chock full of wisdom and encouragment!!

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  2. Great poem - thanks for sharing it. It needs saving.

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  3. I love this poem. Thank you. It's just what I needed right at this moment.

    Thanks too fro letting me know that you're featuring my food blog in October. I'm honoured.

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  4. I love rudyard Kipling!
    I am hosting a blog hop over at my blog today
    http://myfroley.blogspot.com

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  5. I love this poem, used to have it posted in my bedroom. Wise and true words.
    Regards,

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