Thoughts on a Poem - "If"

      This was an assignment for my Creative Writing class, to analyze and report on a poem.

     The poem I chose is Rudyard Kipling’s “If”, which can be found in almost any poetry collection; I found it on page 108 of a 1958 paperback called One Hundred and One Famous Poems. On a most basic level, I love it because it’s so incredibly inspirational. And patriotic, almost; by inference. It gives the reader a framework to evaluate the way they live and say, “Now, that was a life well lived.” We all probably have at least one person who exhibits the qualities expounded in this poem, and so we strive as best we can to emulate them. In so doing, we cultivate these qualities in ourselves.

            Enjambment is used throughout; the entire poem consists of two sentences, which is a remarkable feat of writing in itself, attained by the use of frequent semicolons keeping the sentence aloft. But the ideas are really what makes it special: advocating perseverance, reasonable self-confidence, patience, hard work, imagination and care for fellow creatures. In short, it’s a sermon delivered without preaching, taking the form of a talk with your father or grandfather. As far as rhyme scheme goes, it seems to be ABABCDCD, and there are frequent pauses(caesura) skillfully woven throughout, to force the reader to consider the arguments Kipling is making. Also, all these images are highly concrete; making it easy to see and understand his argument. Besides the rhyme scheme, “if” is repeated thirteen times throughout the poem, and these “if” statements are quickly flipped so we see the contrast with the negative behavior implied. The strength of the poem lies in its simplicity.

            “Triumph” and “Disaster” are both metaphorically personified as “impostors”; which is likely true. The common tools used to rebuild your life’s work are likewise called “worn-out”, simply because they’re in use almost every day; these qualities of honesty, patience, diligence, etc. When those structures are built with these worn-out tools, they draw from a much more stable inner core of strength. As Kipling continues, if we can do all this and fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, then “Yours is the Earth and everything that is in it.” This is obviously hyperbole; but we get the point. If all this advice and caution is followed(not perfectly, that would be impossible), then the son can become a Man, and in our common lives, his readers can become leaders.