There are notable human behaviors and conditions that Rudyard Kipling wrote poems and novels about during his life time that spanned the years from 1865 till 1936. Many of you may not be familiar with this Nobel Prize winning British writer. If you are not you may enjoy reading a bit about him by clicking on the title of this blog that links to a Wikipedia biographical summary.
If you are not familiar with Rudyard Kipling's poem "If", written in 1910 here it is:
If
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 to 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 to 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 that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll me a Man my son!
We must overlook Kipling's gender reference that emphasized the male gender and realize that his words apply to all genders. What is inescapable is the potency of his word and how well they apply to our chaotic time. Rudyard Kipling expressed his view of how humans could and should live in this simple yet powerful poem. His words will stand for all times.
We are very fortunate to have the leader of our country, President Obama, a human who exhibits all the virtues that Kipling held dear. Perhaps, the media talking heads and all politicians, by reading Kipling's poem "If", would stop irrational and hateful speech and begin to become the kind of humans that Rudyard Kipling wrote about. President Obama deserves all of our support to help him guide us through these turbulent times.
Thank you President Obama for your steadfast and rational leadership that embraces Rudyard Kipling's portrayal the best of manhood. Rudyard Kipling deserves our tribute for his insight, and I for one am very grateful for his vision. Perhaps many of us will read his words and thoughts expressed in "If" and begin to live by them. Perhaps then our world will respond to thoughtful realism, humility,and rational behavior that are so vital for survival in our era. Our children and grandchildren must also read Kipling's poem since they will inherit the Earth as we leave it, and may offer more hope for their children and the world they inherit if they can adopt the essence of Rudyard Kipling's words.
2 comments:
a pertinent Kipling poem that Obama should read-
The Young British Soldier
By Rudyard Kipling
Born 1865
When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East
'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast,
An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased
Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier.
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
So-oldier OF the Queen!
Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day,
You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay,
An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may:
A soldier what's fit for a soldier.
Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .
First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts --
Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts --
An' it's bad for the young British soldier.
Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .
When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt --
Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout,
For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,
An' it crumples the young British soldier.
Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .
But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead:
You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said:
If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead,
An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier.
Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .
If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;
Be handy and civil, and then you will find
That it's beer for the young British soldier.
Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .
Now, if you must marry, take care she is old --
A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,
For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.
'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . .
If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! --
Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both,
An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.
Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .
When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck,
Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck,
Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luck
And march to your front like a soldier.
Front, front, front like a soldier . . .
When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;
She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich,
An' she'll fight for the young British soldier.
Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .
When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine,
The guns o' the enemy wheel into line,
Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine,
For noise never startles the soldier.
Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .
If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .
When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier of the Queen!
Thanks Nina, Kipling is correct again! We must all read what he has written and try to conduct our lives as "If" describes. I believe that President Obama does!
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