Jimbo
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.IFIf u can keep ur head when all about uAre loosing theirs and blaming it on u .If u can trust yourself when all men doubt uBut make allowance for their doubting tooIf u can wait and not be tired by waiting Or being lied don't deal in liesOr being hated don't give way to hating And yet don't look too good nor talk too wiseIf u can dream and not make dream ur masterIf u can think and not make thoughts ur aim If u can meet with Triumph and DisasterAnd treat those two impostors just the same If u can bear to hear the truth u've spokenTwisted by knaves to make a trap for foolsOr watch the things u gave ur llife to broken And stoop and build them up with worn-out-toolsIf u can make one heap of all ur winnings And risk it on one turn pitch-and-tossand loose and start again at ur beginningsAnd never breathe a word about ur lossIf u can force ur heart and nerve and sinewTo serve ur turn long after they are gone And so hold on when there is nothing in uExcept the Will which says to them :"Hold on"If u can talk with crowds and keep ur virtueOr walk with Kings-nor lose the common touchIf neither foes nor loving friends can hurt u If all men count with u, but none to muchIf u can fill the unforgiving minuteWith 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)
mimpimanis
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.
