IF...

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are concerned with how the budget affects me and you,
If you can trust it’ll work itself out when all men doubt it,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait out the queues, not be tired by waiting,
Being lied to by governments, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated for skin colour, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too cocky, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream of curing illness, not make dreams your master;
If you can think on terrors impact - not make thoughts your aim;
If you can watch a golfers truimph and Cricket's disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by Chavs to make a trap for fools,
Or feel your safety to travel broken,
Rebuild your courage with worn-out tools:

If you can make a heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of Poker’s hand,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
Never breathe a word of your lost grand;
If you can buy from a vendor, the big issue
Long after most of your wage is gone,
And pray with everything that is in you
This way his life won’t carry on.

If you can talk with politicians and keep your virtue,
Or walk with celebrities - not lose the common touch,
If both the evil and good get fairness from you,
If all want your company, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With Usain Bolts 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!

Copyright © Alice Toby-Brant 2010 All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: OBVIOUSLY Props go to Rudyard Kipling as we all know he wrote the original, I just gave it a little 2015 remix.