#FlashbackFriday Edition #3

Hello, and welcome to today’s edition of Flashback Friday. This is where I showcase a poem, every week, that should never get lost in the sands of time. They’re hand picked, especially curated pieces by some very illustrious poets. (Regular readers – see, I’m keeping up my promise of finally posting one a week. yay, me! Aren’t you proud? *wink wink*) To read previous poem posted in this edition, please click here.

Today’s poem is one that was introduced to me by my father when I was a kid. It is poignant and profound. It can very well be made a motto to live life by. I know I try my best to emulate it. I even wrote it down and pinned it above my bed for daily inspiration. So, for you today, here’s

Rudyard Kipling’s If –

– 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 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!

I hope you enjoyed today’s pick as much as I have over the years. I would love to hear your views on it in the comments section down below. You know I’m always open to healthy discussion, so don’t be shy.

Thank you for reading.

Love,

Varnika.