never eat an apple thats just one color: May 2010

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

IF

I was a sophomore in high school, on a bus to the biggest soccer game of my life up until that point. An undefeated season on the line and a trip to state. In our path was the previous years state champion. Instead of our usual joyous team singing to the same 20 or so songs by Tom Petty, BB mack, N Sync, and Backstreet Boys the mood was more somber. Everyone knew we were in for our toughest test. Our coach walked down the isle and handed us each a paper. On it was the poem below. At the time I did not understand its significance, probably because poetry was the last thing on my mind. It took me eight years but I think I finally understand. Too late to go to state but not to late to win.

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 all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath 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!

--Rudyard Kipling