Christine Nguyen

Mrs. Jimenez

Cp English 1 Honors

17 February 2017

If You

If, a musical loudly spoken poem, written by Rudyard Kipling speaks clearly of self

respect, self love, grace, and loyalty. A couple of the most important aspects of an individual’s

content can embrace. From thick and thin until the day people finally collapse, many will not

remember and appreciate those who are loyal to the end. Those who stood in the back to catch us

when failure strikes. “With sixty seconds worth of distance run, yours is the Earth and everything

that’s in it (line 29)

“If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting

too,” is a very powerful verse, where it can be replaced with many different terms. (3)

Embarrassed for believing above and beyond. While majority of the population will attempt to fit

in and blend with the crowd, a handful of people will cherish a flame. They will improve with a

boost of doubt that men have given to them. “Or being lied about, don’t deal with lies or being

hated, don’t give way to hating and yet don’t looked too good nor talk too wise.” (6) Verse six

through nine justifies the beauty on the inside of people’s brains. The word brains have been

chosen over heart for the basic reason of illusion. When a woman is teased for her appearance or

her thought process she tends to take those comments to her heart. Similar to how men are lied

and hated in this poem. With the hatred and pressure that most deal with, they will conclude with

by fitting in with the rest of society. People will be teased and mocked, but they can not let that

slide to their heads. By shutting the negative out and focusing on the positive, people will be able
to be happier with who they are. On the other hand, once triumph has hit people have taken that

triumph to their heads. Believing that they are the best, letting others down for who they are. “If

you can dream and not let your dreams be your master” (Line 9). Blind by a dream, a few

number of people will follow their dreams to the end. Shutting everything and everyone out of

their life, a dream is now their master.

In conclusion, through falls, flys, trips, and jumps parents will always be the one to catch

you when you fall. No matter how much you shut them out parents will be the ones who bring

their children up. Through broken trust and foolish decisions none of this really matters because

“which is more you'll be the man my son.” (31)