POEM BY RUDYARD KIPLING

KEEP YOUR HEAD WHEN ALL ABOUT YOU

AND BLAMING IT ON YOU

WHEN ALL MEN DOUBT YOU,

FOR THEIR DOUBTING TOO;

AND NOT BE TIRED BY WAITING,

DON'T DEAL IN LIES.

DON'T GIVE WAY TO HATING

NOR TALK TO WISE:

AND NOT MAKE DREAMS YOUR MASTER

AND NOT MAKE THOUGHTS YOUR AIM;

WITH TRIUMPH AND DISASTER,

TWO IMPOSTORS JUST THE SAME;

TO HEAR THE TRUTH YOU'VE SPOKEN

TO MAKE A TRAP FOR FOOLS,

YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE TO, BROKEN,

UP WITH WORN-OUT TOOLS:

ONE HEAP OF ALL YOUR WINNINGS

ONE TURN OF PITCH-AND-TOSS,

AT YOUR BEGINNINGS

A WORD ABOUT YOUR LOSS;

YOUR HEART AND NERVE AND SINEW

LONG AFTER THEY ARE GONE,

WHEN THERE IS NOTHING IN YOU

WHICH SAYS TO THEM: "HOLD ON!"

WITH CROWDS AND KEEP YOUR VIRTUE,

NOR LOSE THE COMMON TOUCH,

OR LOVING FRIENDS CAN HURT YOU,

BUT NONE TOO MUCH;

THE UNFORGIVING MINUTE

WORTH OF DISTANCE RUN,

AND EVERYTHING THAT'S IN IT,

YOU'LL BE A MAN MY SON.

POEM BY RUDYARD KIPLING