Free translation from Rudyard Kipling's 'If'
If you can keep your loot when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust the Cause when all men doubt it,
But do some spinning for their doubting too;
If you can take and not be tired by taking,
Or being criticized, don’t give a toss,
Or being hated, don’t give way to doubt,
And keep on looking good, and talking wise:
If you can dream—and turn your dreams to moolah ;
If you can think—and not let that distract you;
If you can meet commissions and investigations
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the stuff you've spoken
Twisted by lawyers to make a trap for you,
Or watch the things you gave your life to get attached,
And stoop and build ’em up with tenders new:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on some nifty German cars,
And lose, and start again on a new tender
And never breathe a word about your boss;
If you can charm your cronies and constituents
To serve your turn long after they are done,
And so hold on when there is nothing in them
Except the Lie which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and know your slogans,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the sticky touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
Simply because you know too much,
If all men count with you, but mostly those with bucks;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of looting done,
Yours is this land and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a party Man, my son!
Tips for the blogger gratefully accepted
Capitec Bank, South Africa
1378565477
O Tichmann
+27 833970723
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