Reflections On The Rudyard Kipling Poem "If"

Many of us will be familiar with the Rudyard Kipling poem entitled “If” beginning with the line “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you”. In the midst of all the good advice found in the poem there may be some parts with which you would raise objection. Have a listen. See do we agree on what to accept and what to reject. Enjoy the discussion.

Transcript

Dear friends,

Many of us will be familiar with the Rudyard Kipling poem entitled If.

You know the poem which begins with the line,

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.

There is such wisdom in the 288 words which make up this poem.

It seems to have been written around 1895,

So in the 24th century we must make allowance for the fact that it is rather masculine in tone.

It's addressed to a man,

It refers to men's opinions and it refers to walking with kings.

The language is of its time but it is easily forgivable.

In the midst of all the good advice there is one particular part of the poem with which I would raise objection.

It's not the line where we are encouraged to risk our winnings on one turn of pitch and toss.

I don't imagine Rudyard Kipling was encouraging gambling.

I'll read the poem for you now and as you listen you might think is there any part of this advice that you might disagree with.

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 imposters 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 them up and stoop and build them 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 60 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.

And there you have it the well-known poem by Rudyard Kipling,

If.

Such helpful advice for life but did you find something jarring with you as I read the poem?

It would be interesting to have your comments.

For me the problem line is where we are encouraged to fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run.

I'd prefer to accept the advice that after stopping for a while we should have a little rest.

The world is moving ever more quickly and we don't allow ourselves enough time to simply be.

So how about this for a compromise?

Accepting 90% of the advice of Rudyard Kipling and turning to John Lennon for the other 10%.

John Lennon talks about watching the wheels.

You must remember this verse from that well-known song.

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round.

I really love to watch them roll.

No longer riding on the merry-go-round I just had to let it go.

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round.

I just had to let it go.

I just had to let it go.

And if the thought of wheels going round and round makes you dizzy you might look instead for advice to the Irish singer-songwriter Mick Hanley.

He has a wonderful song called These Days which opens like this.

These days things are moving much better than they used to move.

Maybe I finally let myself say that there's much less to prove.

I used to go running round crazy trying to be more than a man but I'm doing a lot more lately doing the best that I can.

And the closing line of the song.

It's only taken a lifetime to get round to changing my ways but I'm having more fun getting more done taking it easy these days.

Words of Mick Hanley.

So to sum up we have this wonderful existence this hard to believe opportunity that came to us on the day we entered into this world.

Let each of us just do the best that we can looking out for all the advice the wise people of this world have to offer.

But remember to take a break.

Remember to stop.

Take an opportunity to do nothing.

Now this break is not intended as a means to seek further inspiration.

That would be just more work.

Inspiration might come when we take a break and it will only come in moments of quietness.

But we need to stop.

We need stopping and quietness for its own sake not as a means to an end.

We are after all human beings not human doings.

So let's remember to stop and let's be.

Let us just be and always let's be grateful.

Always grateful.

Namaste.

Reviews

Thanks Tony for your reflections and for sharing your so dear wisdom with us. I’m really grateful and wish you a lifetime of blessings. Namaste 🙏🏽

Excellent! I loved the words of the Irish song, having JUST come to the same conclusion a few days ago. And yes, it has "only taken a lifetime". It's life-changing, and the funny part is that I'm getting more accomplished than ever and feel way less stressed. I consider this Talk popping up in my feed to be a synchronicity from Spirit as a form of applause for my new attitude and happier lifestyle. Thank you! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Thank you so much, Tony; ‘If’ is one of the poems that I learnt by heart last year and it always brings such comfort - I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on it, along with carefully chosen lyrics from some great songs. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I still love the wisdom of the poem and agree with the need to watch the wheels go round and round...and getting better at that with age too..its one of the blessings that has emerged in my 60's.

Thank you Tony for more words of reflection and wisdom. I don't much like Rudyard Kipling's poem about how to be a 'real man', as I find it too encroached in it's epoch of male dominated society, where "real men" had to be hard and show no emotions.
However, I loved Tony's other readings after the Kipling poem and especially his own words of wisdom. "We are afterall, human beings, not human doings" - Love that so much! Thank you.

One of my favorite poems. Thanks for these thoughts on it, Tony!

Thank you for sharing these inspirational words. 🙏

Thank you Tony for the reminder of how important it is to take real breaks from engaging in all of the chaos of daily life.

A very nice take on Rudyard Kipling’s well no poem. Thank you.

That was lovely. Thank you for reciting the Poem ‘If’ as well as reading the lyrics to songs that all have an important message. I’ve never heard ‘If’ before, it’s a beautiful poem that I want to listen to again, and again to let the words sink in. This was a perfect way to start my day of rest. Thank you. 🙏🏼

Thank you Tony for this wonderful reminder that it's a good thing to just stop and rest in the moment, perchance to dream.

A beautiful reflection. I often associate my quiet or rest time with seeking inspiration in the form of podcasts etc. however you are quite right when you say that this is simply more work. Thank you, Tony. Bless you.

Thank you, Tony. I had a boss who had the ‘If’ poem plastered on a large wall in our leadership conference room. I was not comfortable with it but your delivery helped me soften to it.

Thank you, for always reminding us to take a break. I could listen to you forever. You bring me peace, hope and strength. Namaste 🙏🫶🙌

Loved listening to the poem "If" with its very familiar words that I hadn't revisited for many years and so did not know how much they dovetail with my current aspirations and practices. Also the lovely words from John Lennon and also an Irish songwriter? whose name began with Mick.
Thankyou Tony, a lovely way to start the day 🙏

(Sorry I made it 5 stars but it shows as 4.9 Curious 🙄🤔🙏)

Loved this! I think the line about making a heap of all your winnings & risk it & lose & start again is more about taking a gamble in life.. maybe it will work out & maybe it won’t. If it didn’t, you’ve learned from it & move on a wiser but not defeated man. The line about filling the unforgiving minute to me means go through life giving it all you’ve got, your 100% like someone in a race. And yes, rest & reflection makes all the virtues in the poem possible. Namaste Mr. Brady

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If only our soul family had the time space and means to listen and reflect on these words..

Perhaps we would all strive for perfection a little less and be at peace with doing our highest good for all

Namaste 🙏🏼

Always good to listen to you Tony. It seems that these days we wait until we retire before we take the time to relax and watch the wheels go round or let things be. This younger generation is just on the rush so much, and the things they miss because of this type of lifestyle.
Stop and spend time with your children and watch the amazement they see. Take the time for nature, awake a few times to see the beautiful colors of the sunrise or sit outside to take in the sunset. It doesn’t cost anything and it fills the soul.
I really enjoyed this Tony.
I hope you and your family are doing well and Thank You 🙏🏻💕

Another thought provoking offering Tony, giving the chance to stop and think, something seemingly not a high priority for Kipling. But our time is so different from his; a world without social media, not even radio, world where nature was still entwined with daily life, a world where you could still see the stars at night would appear to have moments of respite built in. We have to actively seek out our “downtime”. Thank you Tony 🙏🏻🌺

That was a lovely reminder Tony. I think on any Gender side . Age slows us down. Which makes us think more about what you matters most, 🙏🏻