Thread: How True

I was looking through some things of mine yesterday and I found this old Kipling poem. I remember how much I thought of it when I first heard it. It is just as applicable today as it was a 100 years ago. It also reminded me of a recent discussion on how the Balinese think and that made it all the more relevent.


IF
If u can keep ur head when all about u
Are loosing theirs and blaming it on u .
If u can trust yourself when all men doubt u
But make allowance for their doubting too
If u can wait and not be tired by waiting
Or being lied 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 u can dream and not make dream ur master
If u can think and not make thoughts ur aim
If u can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same
If u can bear to hear the truth u've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools
Or watch the things u gave ur llife to broken
And stoop and build them up with worn-out-tools
If u can make one heap of all ur winnings
And risk it on one turn pitch-and-toss
and loose and start again at ur beginnings
And never breathe a word about ur loss
If u can force ur heart and nerve and sinew
To serve ur turn long after they are gone
And so hold on when there is nothing in u
Except the Will which says to them :"Hold on"
If u can talk with crowds and keep ur virtue
Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt u
If all men count with u, but none to much
If u 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 u'll be a Man, my son!
(R.Kipling)

Jimbo, this was one of my mums favourite poems and we always had a framed copy up in the house. Infact she gave framed copies to many freinds and family some of whom still have them up, I am amazed, to see when I visit!

It's a great poem - thanks for posting.

Talking of Kipling I watched a movie about his son recently "Our Lad Jack" quite an interesting watch.