“If” is a poem written by the English poet and novelist Rudyard Kipling in 1895. The poem is a set of moral instructions addressed to the poet’s son, and it offers advice on how to live a virtuous and fulfilling life.
The poem is written in the form of a series of conditional statements, with each stanza beginning with the word “If.” The poem’s central theme is the importance of self-discipline, perseverance, and humility in the face of life’s challenges.
The poem emphasizes the need for the reader to remain calm, focused, and resolute in the face of adversity. Kipling emphasizes the importance of self-control, urging the reader to keep their head “when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you.”
The poem also emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and accepting the consequences of one’s choices. Kipling urges the reader to “meet with triumph and disaster / And treat those two impostors just the same.”
Ultimately, the poem offers a vision of what it means to be a true and honorable person, emphasizing the importance of character, integrity, and moral courage. The poem’s final stanza offers a vision of a life well-lived, in which the reader has become “a Man, my son.”
