Author Topic: A poem to teach your kids  (Read 2240 times)

Online backupr9

  • Grand Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1616
A poem to teach your kids
« on: February 25, 2019, 09:21:11 AM »
My father made me memorize (and understand) this at age 9...he’d challenge me to quote it occasionally and I’d get a buck or two (back when that was a lot of money) if I could do it.  I’ve taught it to my sons, and they to their sons.  Could work as well for girls with a little poetic license.

If

By Rudyard Kipling

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!





Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/if-by-rudyard-kipling
"Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little order, will lose both, and deserve neither." 
Thomas Jefferson

Endur Fortis

Offline cargaritaville

  • Grand Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1073
Re: A poem to teach your kids
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2019, 10:42:08 AM »
I had to memorize this fine poem in the 4th grade at Saint Michael's School. Sister Mary ???? said we would remember the words for the rest of our lives. The loudspeaker then came on to announce that President Kennedy had been shot.
Having a gun in your hand is much more effective than having the entire police department on the phone!

Online backupr9

  • Grand Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1616
Re: A poem to teach your kids
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2019, 11:54:49 AM »
Sister Mary was right!
"Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little order, will lose both, and deserve neither." 
Thomas Jefferson

Endur Fortis

Offline ECR

  • Grand Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1709
Re: A poem to teach your kids
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2019, 08:23:46 PM »
Wonderful words
Makers of the NRA Shooting Illustrated: "Handgun of the Year for 2005" and receiver of an NRA Golden Bullseye Award.

Offline Douglas

  • Expert
  • ***
  • Posts: 187
Re: A poem to teach your kids
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2019, 11:26:31 PM »
Awesome.

Thanks!  8)