If
By Rudyard Kipling Editor's note: Sometimes we will not have creative works available for our weekly post. Thus, we will occasionally choose creative works in the Public Domain that have impressed someone on the editorial staff and can add to the immersive nature and spirit of The Pensieve. We consider the following poem to be simultaneously vivid, inspirational, and accessible, making it a fantastic introduction to the power poetry can have upon a reader. In this particular poem, Kipling focuses on becoming, especially in giving good advice to children. Although he ends with a male reference, it clearly can be good advice to daughters too. It seems like in this recent age of divisiveness, Kipling's words can again bring comfort that we are on the right path. If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by wait