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Rudyard Kipling

As the semester draws to a close, and I make final preperations for giving final examinations next week, I have become a bit more contemplative. To me, contemplation, the thinking and pondering of thoughts and ideas is crucial for helping me feel a whole person. When life is too harried and hectic, and I do not get to contemplate, I feel a bit hollow.

Now, as long time readers may recall, several times in the last several months purposefully worked to keep busy to NOT contemplate, because at the time, I was trying to avoid contemplating the loss of my beloved mother which occurred in March. But, that was an attempt to avoid pain by me. I love to contemplate, and even if the contemplation does turn to memories of my mother, I strive to make the contemplation of good times shared. Now, realistically, many times that contemplation of my beautiful mother does turn to the sadness and grief.... it is part and partial of what is now reality.

What is nice, however, now that I have more contemplative time, is that I am contemplating other avenues of my life and work as well. It has been enjoyable to plan and prepare new strands of research. It has been grand to think about new papers to write and submit for publication. It has been mildly pleasant to contemplate new grants I can submit (grant writing is not my favorite task).

I have also been contemplating more about art and music. A case in point is my thinking about Rudyard Kipling, the author/poet. His works are so creative and enjoyable. I am thinking I wish to re-read several of his novels. It is also significant to note that Kipling was a venerate pipe smoker as well... always a good trait in a fellow. I thought I would post an especially meaningful poem of his here for you to enjoy. It is called "IF". I have found the poem meaningful and beautiful my whole life. It helped me in adolescence and throughout adulthood.

IF

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 all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath 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!

--Rudyard Kipling


I hope you find the poem as valuable for you as I have found it for me.

PipeTobacco