"IF"

[gunny]

I thought I would start my new thread off by posting the poem "IF" by Rudyard Kipling. The poem was originally written for men, but has been, and can be modified for use by women, children etc. After having read many posts on this board by people who sometimes become discouraged or ambivalent about DBing, in the sense that they are doing all for naught, or being taken advantage of, my perspective is that we do what we do because it is the right thing to do, becauSe we eventually want to be able to look ourselves in the mirror and say we have given our all, and have fought the good fight. We can find peace and solace in this fact, so...

IF

IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEAD WHEN ALL ABOUT YOU
ARE LOSING THEIRS AND BLAMING IT ON YOU
IF YOU CAN TRUST YOURSELVES, WHEN ALL MEN DOUBT YOU,
BUT MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR THEIR DOUBING TOO
IF YOU CAN WAIT, AND NOT BE TIRED BY WAITING
OR BEING LIED ABOUT, DONT DEAL IN LIES
OR BEING HATED, DONT GIVE WAY TO HATING
AND YET DONT 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 IMPOSTERS JUST THE SAME
IF YOU CAN BEAR TO HEAR THE TRUTH YOUVE 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 ONE HEAP OF ALL YOUR EARNINGS
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 WALK 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 THATS IN IT
AND-WHICH IS MORE-YOU WILL BE A MAN MY SON!