IF (With honor to Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936)

This is a current update on Rudyard Kipling's great poem entitled IF. I memorized his classic original in Speech Class and have been greatly influenced by it all my Adult life.

IF

You can keep your head

When all about you are losing theirs

IF

You can keep your eternal perspective

And sound moral fiber

While others are selling out

And tossing theirs away

IF

You can keep on being Patriotic

To your land of birth and promise

While 500 elected officials in

Washington D.C. continue to refuse

To accept their elected responsibility

And what's more--blame it on others

IF

You can watch the things you've 

Given your whole life to broken--

And stoop to rebuild them with your

Own tired and worn-thin tools

IF

You can force your heart and soul and sinew

To HOLD ON when you feel just like a fool

IF

You can still pray GOD BLESS AMERICA honoring

The battles tired and torn OLD Glory's won

Yours is the Earth---and all that is in it

And what's more--you'll be a man, my son.

2013 by DRR

Academy of American Poets

Author's Note

Thanks for reading today my friends

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for sharing the amazing poem. I like the poetry that teaches and showed us the good ways to live and think.
Coyote

[poetdoug]

tHANKS so much my friend

[Night]

Kipling's original poem is one of great contemplation, you have added to that! I enjoyed this, thank you!

[poetdoug]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your positive review.

[Lydia Shutter]

You've expanded Kipling's great poem....and done so admirably. Very patriotic write, Doug. I enjoyed it. Lydi**

[poetdoug]

Thank you Lydia. God Bless America!

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Wow. You've given the original poem justice, giving it a contemporary touch. Excellent! :)

[poetdoug]

Thank you Blue for 'getting me'--LOL I sincerely appreciate your review

[poetdoug]

Thanks so much for your 'on the nose' review. That's what I was going for!

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Enjoyed reading this one which has great meaning..I am glad that I chose it to read today..Sara

[poetdoug]

Thanks so much Sara

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

You are quite welcome..

Sara

[Avinash]

Brilliant and shows the way in confusing times of ours

[poetdoug]

Thank you Avinash my friend

[Baby Ricochet]

HEAR HEAR!!! Awesome! Loved it! Outstanding work sir!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

by the way, a really excellent poem that makes us ponder the "if's" and the "what if's"---

jacob

[poetdoug]

Yes, and there are multiples of If's--that's for sure!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

guess i'm not much of a man these days...because i can hardly do any of these things..

i have lost so much faith in this country.

[poetdoug]

Yes, these are difficult times 'that try men's souls' Amen my friend!

[Sami Khalil]

A great poet. A splendid poem. A new star-poet...Bravo

[poetdoug]

I stand humbled at your words. Shalom!

[Sami Khalil]

My pleasure...:)