Shadow Hamilton Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

If you can dream- and not make dreams your master
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Homage To Kipling

Do you ever ponder on the purpose of life?
wonder why things turn out the way they do?
ever look back and think I did that wrongly?
then go and make exactly the same mistake?

("If you can dream- and not make dreams your master
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:") 

What is the purpose of us even being on this planet?
Will our actions live on once we are gone from here?
Or like a breeze floating past will we just vanish?
Like the early dawn mists burnt off by the sun?

What will you teach your children about this coil?
Will you guide them well? make them fine citizens?
Leaving them to be your legacy of a life well spent?
They say a butterfly's wings beating changes the weather

All I know is strive to do right and be kind to all
To put others first before I choose a path in life
("Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!")

07/25/2013 written for Homage contest     passages taken from If by Kipling

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Skat A August 17, 2013 at 8:07 PM Congratulations Shadow, , a wonderful Homage to this poet... SKAT

Andrea Dietrich August 17, 2013 at 11:18 AM Congrats to you. You chose a wonderful poet to emulate. I love his works. Shadow Hamilton August 17, 2013 at 5:40 PM "If" has always been my favourite poem. Ty Andrea Shadow x smiles

Debbie Guzzi August 17, 2013 at 11:07 AM Congrad's on your win! Ahh Kipling! Light & Love Shadow Hamilton August 17, 2013 at 5:41 PM yes Debbie he is awesome. Ty Shadow x smiles

Monterey Sirak August 17, 2013 at 7:29 AM Well deserved win. This is a thinking poem, very well expressed Shadow Hamilton August 17, 2013 at 5:42 PM hi Monterey so nice to see you Ty appreciated Shadow x smiles

Richard Lamoureux August 17, 2013 at 7:16 AM This was an excellent choice and so well expressed Shadow. Shadow Hamilton August 17, 2013 at 5:43 PM so kind of you Richard ty Shadow xox smiles

John Posey July 28, 2013 at 9:32 AM Shadow, My friend, I am impressed with your choice of poets to honor. Your entry speaks well of the inspiration his work brings to your pen.... Well done, and good luck in the contest... Love ya..... Jake Shadow Hamilton July 28, 2013 at 12:31 PM ty Jake I did consider Wordsworth as I was in Grasmere in april but If has always been my favorite poem ty for reading Shadow x smiles

Gerald Kithinji July 28, 2013 at 5:14 AM Highly Kiplingesque, I should say. Thank you. Shadow Hamilton July 28, 2013 at 5:26 AM Ty Gerald very kind of you to take time to read Shadow x smiles

Heather Secrest July 27, 2013 at 2:58 PM Beautiful poem! I often find myself wondering. :D Loved it -Heather Shadow Hamilton July 27, 2013 at 4:39 PM Ty Heather though my words will never be as good as his Shadow x smiles

Laura Breidenthal July 26, 2013 at 5:22 PM Inspirational. This is really good. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and wrapping it up so nicely for the reader. Very cool. Always, Laura Shadow Hamilton July 27, 2013 at 4:42 PM hi Laura so happy you got inspiration from it Shadow x smiles

Donna Jones July 26, 2013 at 3:51 PM Perfectly said Shadow and grand message... Shadow Hamilton July 27, 2013 at 4:43 PM Ty Donna very pleased you enjoyed it Shadow x smiles

Nette Onclaud July 26, 2013 at 2:42 PM very existentialist in expression and crearively inquisitive.. so well done, shadow.. thanks for appreciating my poem in your contest; much honored!..:) huggs Shadow Hamilton July 27, 2013 at 4:45 PM hi Nette yours was a lovely poem Ty for liking this Shadow x smiles

Poet Tacito July 26, 2013 at 8:03 AM This was wonderfully layered out. You colored a beautiful & necessary message here. Shadow Hamilton July 26, 2013 at 11:38 AM hi Drake ty dear sorted out problem with browser all working ok. Ty I was a little unsure if I had got it right Shadow x smiles

Shadow Hamilton July 26, 2013 at 5:47 AM hi my dearest friend nice to see you so glad you like it love Shadow smiles xox

Mustapha Mohammed July 26, 2013 at 5:15 AM This is a strong write my friend.I love this one,here we see love coming to the fore.Thanks very much for this.

Christine Phillips July 26, 2013 at 3:38 AM Hmmm...well I guess there are many people who are still contemplating on the purpose of live ...The answer is quite simple. Thank you for reminding us. Shadow Hamilton July 26, 2013 at 4:59 AM Hi Christine Ty for reading Shadow x smiles