Strokes of Genius
When I was a little boy my father was a US Naval Admiral, who much to my dismay at the time, was an avid reader. The dismay wasn't in his love of reading. It was in his unrelenting imposition of his pastime on me.
His favorite "weapon of choice" was a poem entitled "If", written by Rudyard Kipling, a British novelist of enormous talent and popularity. Kipling wrote this poem for his 9 year old son who would die on a WW1 battlefield a few short years later.
The author's words inspired a nation back then, and me a little later, and millions since. I hope you like and will pass it around.
IF
by 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 all 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!
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
Recent Comments
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Hi Daniel,
It is heavy and we all need this kind of heavy. We all come complete with a big bag of booboos. And it's our job to fix 'em.
This still gives me goose-bumps when I read it. I used to be able to recite the poem when I was a lot younger. Thanks for the reminder Dick. ~Marion
Nice post, Dick. Wise words from a great writer and poet who I share the same birthdate with! Warmly, Heather.
Thanks for sharing these wise words with us Dick! They help to combat the blows we experience in life and keep us strong and courageous to fight life's battles with confidence and assurance that we will succeed!
Onward and upward!
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I love that! Thank you for an enriching read...
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!"....
Thanks. Dick... Ever, pJ
Hi Pj,
It's good to see you again. Still trying to figure out how you manage with 27 kids. I have it. Delegation. You are running a massive delegatorium.
You are so sweet, one of the reasons I like this place so much. I can't wait to see you screaming from the top of the mountain. And you will.
Please have a fantastic Thanksgiving. I know you will. With 27 kids how could you not? How many pumpkin pies is that??
Ha ha ha! I don't have 27 kid, well maybe I do if I count all the ones I adopt at work. Making one pie if I get up and get breakfast for the two I have today. Love you too Dick! Thanks for keeping me smiling and positive!!
Welcome Ma'am, have a great weekend Paula.