"IF" as seen in 2012
A Message to Live By in 2012
With a nod to my old friend
Rudyard Kipling.
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IF.....
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IF you can lose your job when all about you
Are keeping theirs but blaming you in 2012
If you can trust no-one when all men doubt you,
But keep allowances and all hand-outs too;
If can`t abide waiting and wish to jump the queue,
Or being cheated up,down,left right and centre,
Or do nothing much about it, as far as you can tell,
And yet still not learnt the lessons of experience too well
If you can dream - and not make Fantasy your master;
If you can think - and not make poetry your aim;
If you can post upon Freaks all of your disasters.
And not expect a favoured comment just the same;
If you can bear to see 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 "Pound Shop" tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one bet with impossible odds
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 post long after they all are gone,
And so comment when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can write a hundred poems about virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if no other Poetic friends can hurt you,
If all men read your " Stuff " but none too much;
If you can fill every Poetic Form you`re asked too
With sixty doubtful rhymes worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll become a " Laureate", my son!
Written by Philip
January 9th 2012
With a nod to my Dear " Friend" Rudyard.
Long may he inspire !
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Excellent Philip bringing Kipling's writing up to date as you have. I see other Poetfreak members have enjoyed it too! I am really glad I chose this poem to read~
I love it, I love it. Very well composed, with alternative words. Took some thinking out I quess, IF I might say so!
great writing Philip.
This was wonderful Philip and the bonus for me was it was based on my most favourite poem of all time - IF by Rudyard Kipling. Great write that I will be recommending.... Pat
Excellent Philip, I love it !..Maggie :)
you did a good job here, Philip
Yeah alike all said I too say teh same excellent penning on IF.
Kipling would have enjoyed the read, if he was here today, up todate you have made his poem....I thought it was quite brillaint. Recommended
Nice composition. 'Ifs' and 'buts' are saving grace of our failures in life.
Philip, this is a excellent take on one of my favourite poems Rudyard's "If".. I am sure he'd be pleased with the result too... Recommended
Philip thi is an excellent reconstruction of the famous "If " - - Recommended.
Philip, this is one of your MEGA BESTs!!! Simply terrific! IF! Yes IF only IF!! Great work.