A reading of Kipling's popular poem of advice on how to be a man which should be taken with a pinch of salt. I recorded this poem again - try the video response.
Its a poem about giving your outmost, your maximum. It speaks about how hard and full of challenges this life is, unforgiving and harsh, and teaches you that its your goal, mission and true meaning to meet the challenges, surpass and triumph over them. It doesn't lie like everything does in our time. It is beautiful and true and because of that it brings tears in my eyes every time i hear it. My son shall know it one day and so shall my daughter.
I'm not an English native speaker, but I think that 'unforgiving minute' is the fatal minute, or the last moment of someone else's life. So it means that even if you know that you are about to die, as an honoured person, you would do the best on your tasks. This is the meaning of sixty seconds worth - while you're alive, even knowing that you're about to die, you put your heart in everything, despite knowing that you'll not enjoy the return of your work, making worth every little second.
"If" tops the polls of favourite poems. If I know a poem means something to people and I'm able to read it, then I include it and forbear burdening people with my personal opinion but, having said that, you can guess what it is. I'm not convinced by the Hemingway-like "Fake-Chest-Hair" posing as manliness: rip it off and you'll find a scared kid beneath. However in general I admire Kipling's works, he lived in different times with different standards of political correctness.
What a treasure to be found, the truth so easy to understand and believe it or not, he is right (Rudyard Kipling) that is! Such a special voice to read a poem so true!........
I can't argue because most people agree with you. It is the most popular poem in the language. However Kipling seems to have changed his mind. Later he wrote this codicil after the son he was addressing was killed in WW1. "If they ask you why we died , tell them that our fathers lied."
Es increible, todo lo que dice este poema esta cargado de una insuperable sabiduria, te deja perplejo frente a tanto saber y tan bella forma, al punto que no tienes más que obedecer a ese llamado a la humanidad. Solo enfrentando lo que propone puede acercarse el hombre a adquirir la dignidad de humano, puesto que solo luego de tales enfrentamientos, "combates bravíos", cada minúto, se podrá escuchar la voz del padre diciendo: "You´ll be a man my son"
My grandfather was a GREAT GREAT man. Accomplished many things that we can only dream about. A true Genius. All of his Kids were genius' in one way or another. Scientist, Prima Ballerina & clair voyant, Pilot, Rolando and My Mom (Rosa-Maria Zapata Casares # 1 MOM). He left me this to live by & I do.... every line, & i am alllll the better for it. share it with your children. Make your sons and daughters into Men and Independant Women. INDIVIDUALS
I believe this poem isn't a standard as much as a portrayal of a mental position from which to live. It doesn't speak to me as a list of goals we may try to reach yet never will but of understanding your own value without minimizing the value of others and building your life on this. The concrete part of who you are, rather than the changable situations around you. "keep your head up when you lose and when you win" it says, and that isn't such a large thing to ask of ourselves after all, is it?
I am about to read more about Rudyard Kipling to understand him, I briefly read and am completely engaged. I need to know more. Check out Rudyard Kipling, astounding, insightful and love.
@SpokenVerse Kipling's personal tragedy does not take away from the poem's power,wisdom and truth. This was also Ayn Rand's favorite poem. It was displayed next to her coffin on her instructions. This is a great poem to inspire one to be one's best in the face of the world's adversities and temptations.
@SpokenVerse Anyway,I'm impressed with your channel. It says something positive about your degree of openness that you include a poem that you do not personally like.
The poem sets an intentionally impossible standard, that's the point of it. It's not wise and truthful nor self deceiving and unrealistically optimistic. It summises the struggle that is being a good person, being a person worthy of respect. You're expected to fail, anyone that succeeds is actually a fool; the important thing is that you try and you keep trying. How well you do is almost irrelevant, as long as you try.
I disagree with it being taken with a pinch of salt. If you look at the era this was written and compare it to now, it stills rings true. My dad used to quote this to me when I was a kid. Now I'm seriously thinking of getting this tattooed on me, as a token of respect and to show how much I respect and value my best friend, confidant and drinking buddy...my dad
@kurupt23987 For me its about winning the internal battles, Most people struggle with something, I like to think that it means if you can win one thing, that is a triumph for yourself. You have proved yourself to a small degree to you. Achievment is what society places upon everyone.
@LucifagoMa I have no Spanish, only a BabelFish translation. Kipling lived to be a sadder and even wiser man. He pulled strings to get his son into the war, even though he was too young, and his son was killed in action. He had these views at one time. Later in life he changed his mind. People adopt "If" saying "Yes, that's exactly what I think" as if it were wisdom. It isn't. It's self-deception.
Kipling raised his son to be a pillar of British empire. However, after his son was killed in ww1, Kipling became disillusioned with the martial preparedness of young men for sacrifice. Sad then to still see the continued propagation of male sacrificial heroism with this poem
@SpokenVerse Actually the poem sensibily advocates a moderate--an aristotelian response, to the world---to seek the " golden mean ". In this view,the gentleperson shows a steadiness when confronted with all of the highs and lows which,of necessity,inhabitates a human life. I know,from my personal experience,that the values of the poem are anything,but fantasy inasmuch as they were among the virtues found in the character of my late father--virtues which I seek with,limited success,to emulate.
My dad read this to me when I was young. Despite my doubts about the common socially excepted ideas about manhood I would read this to my son. I have absorbed some notion of manhood along the way. I have a sharp negative response when I see males behaving in a way that I find unmanly and beat myself up when I fall short of the mark but I do not remember being instructed per se in the fine arts of manliness.
vudu8ball manliness isn't aggression and ruthlessness. Manliness is taking those passions the could lead a man down the road of a brute, and converting into a well rounded and productive man who will give his life in battle or work for his family and society. People such as feminists should tinker with the art of sculpting a man at there own risk.
A (beautiful) poem extolling navel-gazing: struggle to be proud of yourself, and to the hell with reality. And potentially an (intoxicating) incentive to fanaticism: the 2 towers are down yet the world is not a Caliphate, Bin Laden is dead, but carry on fighting and you'll be a Man, my on!
