Scarlet's Poetry Den - Litany of Scars - Notes to a Missing Lover - If #2

Scarlet's Poetry Den

"Litany of Scars - Notes to a Missing Lover"

If #2 - No Apologies to Rudyard Kipling (Listen to the poem in RealAudio G2)

if you can keep your head while other lose theirs
and blame it on bad planetary aspects and critical biorhythms
if you can trust yourself when everybody doubts you
and make no allowances for their doubting
if you can get what you want, no matter what
or being lied about, turn those lies back with a vengeance
or being hated, bite off that hatred and spit it out
and being wise, look good, even if it means keeping your mouth shut

if you can dream the impossible and achieve your dreams
if you can aim your thoughts into action with lightning speed
if you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
and tell Disaster to get lost
if you can tell the truth, get sued for libel
and then get the bastards to perjure themselves
or finding your heart and soul broken after giving your all
from nothing make yourself stronger

if you can make one heap of all you have
risk it out of necessity
lose, and have more than before
when everybody knows you can't lose
if you can force your heart, nerve and sinew past exhaustion
and carry everybody else's burden too
if you can live on nothing but your will
though your strength be broken

if you can walk among the madding crowds and keep sane
or walk with snobs and look better
be thick-skulled enough to bounce in any earthquake
and know everyone can be a real jerk at one point or another
if you can plan six hours work in 60 seconds
and get it done within one
yours is the Universe and the best that's in it
then, my friend, you'll be a survivor

more than that - maybe make it through another day

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