IF

[Guest guest]

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IF

(With minor modifications)

 

If " you " are light when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you are trust in no self when all doubt " you "

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you wait without 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 " dream--and not make dreams your master,

If you think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by selves to make a trap for other selves,

Or watch the things you gave " your " life to, " broken, "

And stoop and " build 'em up " with worn-out tools:

 

If " you " 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 ease your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so let go as there is all within you,

Accept the faith which silent says to them: " I love you! "

 

If " you " 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 count with you, but none too much,

If you fill the forgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of instant fun,

Yours is Eternity and everything that's in it,

And--which is more--you're Grace,

My Sisters and my Brothers!

 

--Rudyard Kipling ( & co.)

 

 

 

8L

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