rudyard kipling if you can keep your head

This poem shows advice someones gives to his son, telling him if he follows it, he'll be a man. The old, inspirational, message-sending kind. Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,Īnd which is more: you'll be a Man, my son!Īfter reading this poem, and a poem yesterday, I'm starting to like poetry a bit. With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, If all men count with you, but none too much: If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch, If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, To serve your turn long after they are gone,Īnd so hold on when there is nothing in youĮxcept the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!' If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

If you can make one heap of all your winningsĪnd risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,Īnd lose, and start again at your beginnings,Īnd never breathe a word about your loss: Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,Īnd stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken If you can meet with Triumph and DisasterĪnd treat those two impostors just the same. If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,Īnd yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,īut make allowance for their doubting too: If you can keep your head when all about you

Rudyard kipling if you can keep your head