IF

This is my favourite poem. It captures, for me, the essence of living a good life.

My father introduced it to me, and I in turn have passed it on to my son.


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 breath 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

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[rapidset]

nice to hear IF read by an English man. This poem has a special resonance which I think to truly understand you have to have lived a lifetime in the English class system, If defines what it is to be a true English man

[dawnofreason]

rapidset, you could be right. Thanks for the comment.

[ChristineHate]

no need to say anything about the beauty and truth of this poem.

but i have to say... thank you, 'cause you read it very nice

and your lovely english accent just made it perfect!

really a pleasure hearing this!

[MrRob4288]

my grandad used to read this to me when i woz a kid

[menormice2]

Lovely poem, its just a shame that the recording isnt 100%

[FarrelAmongus]

I truly enjoyed this reading, well done.

[4merF]

What a beautiful speaking voice you have....such Ear Candy!!

I love this poem...so much truth in it.

Thanks for sharing....well done....5 stars.

[XXYehYehWhateverXX]

it should have been with music ,like now it looks liks a crap

[OneLikeNoOne91]

this is one of the best poems i've ever studied!

those words r so deep and follow them can help very much in the life!!!

[NewDescartes]

I liked it.

4d3p7? nice name.