4 of 7

Write now Article Tools

Poetry analysis: If, by Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling, indeed a man best known for (what many consider) genius literary works. Remembered well for that wonderfully written novel, The Jungle Book, thus transposed to screens worldwide through decades of times for children and adults alike to watch as his characters came to life.

Yet, if he was to write his own life story the tale would be not one that started out with the joyous "Once upon a time ..." nor with the ending of "happily ever after." Mr. Kipling's life was far from a fairytale. As those who have documented his tired beginnings it has been written that he was starved for love and affection over and over again. He was sent away by his own parents only to be abused by a foster mother. Things weren't looking any brighter in school as he did horribly there too, and there was no help available at that time for him. It seemed there were no breaks for him in his youth, yet as a man his trials followed him as he endured the death of two of his own children!

Somehow, though, Mr. Kipling allowed the pen to be his savior. His fame was quickly achieved and yet he remained humble, turning down numerous awards (even a knighthood). He did, however, accept the Nobel Prize for Literature.

You can see his indifference of his hardships of his own life through his poem "IF". It was as though he had taken all the ingredients of his gruesome life and churned them in pot; studied it; and decided to sort it all out to make sense of it somehow. Once he did so, he wanted to pass the best of what he could make of it all onto his son and in doing so he wrote it down. He titled it ... he called it "IF".

As you read this poem, you are quickly intrigued with the depth in which he tries to get his son to understand.

"If you can dream - - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - - and not make thought your aim
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster,
And treat those two imposters just the same;" ...

You also realize that he, somehow, figured it all out; that as a person you are not to blame for all wrongs unless you allow yourself to believe when others accuse you of such!

Much of his growing-up he most likely heard many negative things about himself. Who he was or was not, what/who he was/was not going to be et cetera, but, something inside him allowed him the insight to know better. He was passing this insight along to his son through "IF".

IF Mr. Kipling only knew that more than one hundred years later how his poem probably stands more true now than it ever had, he might be willing to accept one more "award" ... that of my handshake, for allowing me also to pass along his wisdom onto my own sons.

Learn more about this author, Debra L. Gambill.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Poetry analysis: If, by Rudyard Kipling?
We want to hear your view. Write now!