This one is an example of a repetitive concept verse, a type of poem that is extremely difficult to make workable and keep the audience's interest and attention. Kipling's is a masterpiece of inspiration that has survived for generations.
If you can keep your head when all about you
[tab]Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
[tab]But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
[tab]Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
[tab]And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
[tab]If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
[tab]And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
[tab]Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
[tab]And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
[tab]And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
[tab]And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
[tab]To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
[tab]Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
[tab]Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
[tab]If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
[tab]With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
[tab]And-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son!
If (Rudyard Kipling)
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Forum dedicated to form in poetry, classical and new, and a discussion of poetic forms and poets.
This forum does not autoprune.
Forum dedicated to form in poetry, classical and new, and a discussion of poetic forms and poets.
This forum does not autoprune.
- heinzs
- The Fat Cat
- Posts: 8419
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2001 12:01 am
- Tag line: Do no harm
- Location: Novato, CA
- Contact:
If (Rudyard Kipling)
An' it harm none, do what ye will. Blessed Be.
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My Poet's Page Archive | Topics I've started
- heinzs
- The Fat Cat
- Posts: 8419
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2001 12:01 am
- Tag line: Do no harm
- Location: Novato, CA
- Contact:
Of course, with the mods being temporarily destroyed, it now looks like "trash" since the bbcode doesn't work
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[tab]
An' it harm none, do what ye will. Blessed Be.
***************************************
My Poet's Page Archive | Topics I've started
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