If
If you can keep your head when all about you
are loosing 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 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 triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposter just the same
If you can bear to hear the truth you have spoken
twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools
or watch the things you gave your life to, broken
and stoop and build them up with worn out tools
If you can make heap of all your winnings
and risk it all on one turn of pitch and toss
and loose and start again at your beginings
and never breadth 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 loose 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
your is earth and everything thats in it
And which is more you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
(1865-1936)
ps - from my diary. I did not know I used to write the poems I liked.
