Rewriting: Rudyard Kipling's - If

Poetry is not something that I ever really got in to. It did not connect with me like a fantasy story that I could get lost in or a thriller that I could not put down. However, I came across "If" at an early age and something about it just sunk deep inside.

I am not entirely sure how to explain it. The wording, the way it made me feel, the thought provoking message. It all seem to come together and played a big part in shaping how I grew up as a man.

Now I am fully grown and with a son of my own, it seemed only logical to impart the valuable words of Rudyard Kipling. I eagerly waited for the words to sink in, to see that look on his face of recognition as he connected with the meaning behind it all.

There was certainly a look on his face... confusion.

It was me who then realised something. Language has evolved a lot since those days and my son, with his text chat and paragraphs of emojis, had absolutely no idea what half of it meant.

And that is what brings me to this. An attempt to modernise a classic poem by someone who isn't into poetry... Can't say I don't like a challenge. I am trying to write it in a way that keeps the original feel so as to not disgrace the original with the likes of text chat etc. However, play around with the wording so that the youth have a better chance at understanding.

I would love your opinions and if you have any suggestions on what to change then please let me know.

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If you can stay calm when everyone around you

Is losing their heads and blaming you,

If you can trust yourself when others doubt you,

But also understand why they might want too,

If you can be patient and not get tired of waiting,

Or if people lie about you, don’t stoop to their lies,

Or if they hate you, don’t let yourself hate them,

And still don’t act too proud or talk too wise:

If you can dream-and not let dreams control you;

If you can think-and not make thinking your whole life;

If you can face success and failure

And treat them both the same without strife

If you can hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by others to fool and cause frustration,

Or see everything you’ve worked for broken,

And start again with nothing but determination:

If you can risk everything you have on one big shout,

And lose it all, and start over without making a fuss;

If you can keep going when you're totally worn out,

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can push your heart and nerves and muscle

To serve you still when strength has long been gone,

And so hold on through weariness and struggle

With only will that tells them to, “Carry on!”

If you can talk with crowds and still be you,

Or walk with powerful people and stay grounded,

If no one-not even friends or enemies can hurt you,

If everyone matters to you, only a few 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!

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I hope I haven't taken too much away from the original and I hope you enjoyed it.