Welcome to Poem of the Day – “If—” by the Rudyard Kipling.
Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If—” offers timeless wisdom on the virtues of patience, resilience, and self-mastery. Written as advice from a father to his son, it encourages maintaining composure and integrity in the face of life’s challenges.
Content
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 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 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 so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk 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 be a Man, my son!
If Poem Explanation
“If—” is one of his most famous works, offering advice on how to navigate the challenges of life with integrity and resilience. It was published in 1910 as part of his collection Rewards and Fairies. The poem is a father’s guidance to his son, outlining the virtues necessary to become a mature, successful individual.
Structure and Form
The poem is written in four stanzas, each consisting of eight lines, and follows a regular rhyme scheme of ABABCDCD. This structure gives the poem a rhythmic, almost instructional tone, reinforcing the idea of imparting wisdom.
Stanza 1: Self-Control and Patience
The first stanza emphasizes the importance of self-control, patience, and resilience. It advises:
Keeping calm under pressure: The opening lines suggest that if you can maintain your composure when others are panicking or blaming you, you’re on the right path.
Trusting yourself while accepting doubt: Trust in yourself is crucial, but the poem also acknowledges that it’s natural to have doubts. The key is not letting those doubts undermine your confidence.
Being patient: Patience is a recurring theme in the poem. It’s important to wait for results without getting frustrated or seeking shortcuts.
Avoiding lies and hatred: Kipling advises against lying, even if others lie about you, and against hating, even if others hate you. Maintaining moral integrity, despite provocation, is crucial.
Stanza 2: Dreaming and Thinking
The second stanza explores the balance between dreams and reality:
Balancing dreams and actions: While dreaming is important, Kipling warns against letting dreams consume you. It’s essential to balance aspirations with practical actions.
Thinking critically, without being consumed by thoughts: Like dreams, thoughts are valuable but shouldn’t dominate your life. Practicality and balance are key.
Facing triumph and disaster equally: The poem famously refers to triumph and disaster as “impostors,” suggesting that both success and failure are fleeting and should be treated with equanimity.
Rebuilding after loss: If you lose everything, Kipling advises starting again from scratch without dwelling on the loss. This highlights resilience and the ability to recover from setbacks.
Stanza 3: Taking Risks and Accepting Loss
The third stanza delves into risk-taking and perseverance:
Taking calculated risks: The poem encourages taking risks but also being prepared for the possibility of losing everything. What’s important is the courage to take those risks.
Starting over without complaining: If you lose everything, Kipling emphasizes the importance of not dwelling on the loss. Instead, focus on rebuilding without complaint.
Perseverance: Kipling admires the strength to keep going even when physically and mentally exhausted. This tenacity is a key trait of success.
Stanza 4: Humility and Balance
The final stanza addresses the need for humility, balance, and understanding of human nature:
Connecting with all levels of society: Kipling suggests being able to walk with both kings and commoners without losing your humility or values.
Avoiding favoritism: The poem advises treating all people equally, whether they are friends or foes. This impartiality is vital for maintaining integrity.
Making the most of time: Kipling urges his son to make the most of every minute, implying that time is precious and should be used wisely.
Achieving manhood: The closing lines suggest that if you can embody all these virtues, you will have achieved true manhood and success in life.
Themes
The poem touches on several key themes:
Resilience: The ability to withstand and recover from difficulties is central to the poem.
Self-discipline: The importance of controlling one’s emotions, thoughts, and actions is emphasized throughout.
Moral Integrity: The poem advocates for honesty, fairness, and humility, even in the face of adversity.
Balance: Whether it’s balancing dreams and reality or dealing with success and failure, balance is a recurring idea.
Significance
“If—” is a powerful reflection on the qualities necessary for personal growth and success. It encourages self-discipline, resilience, humility, and moral integrity, presenting these traits as the foundation of a fulfilling life. Kipling’s advice remains timeless, offering wisdom that can be applied across different stages of life.