If— (for the rest of us) - original poem

IF (for the rest of us)
By Nymmlee. A reimagining of ‘If—’ by Rudyard Kipling
–
If you can keep your head when assholes taunt you
And, loud with scorn, are shouting at you ‘shame’,
If you can hold your truth while bigots haunt you,
Yet stand your ground and never play their game;
If you can wait and keep your calm in silence,
Or speak with care while others shout their lies,
If you can rise and never match their violence,
And fight for justice, not for ego’s prize:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your mistress,
If you can plan—and know your plans may fail.
If you can survive your Worries and Distress
And with them as companions still take sail;
If you can hear your tale used as a warning,
Or see your love dismissed as something fake,
And, defiant, get out of bed each morning,
And live the life you never let them break:

If you can own the names they branded ‘shameful’,
And wear the flags they told you not to fly,
If you can be both visible and grateful,
And still not owe the world a reason why—
If you know that, no matter where your birthplace,
Your gender, or the colour of your skin,
You are enough—and stand tall without disgrace,
So every moment standing is a win.

If you push past the hateful and the mindless,
And take the shit they never had to bear,
If you can give no fucks, and still show kindness,
And plant your flag in open, honest care;
If you can rest and know you’re not a burden,
And love yourself the way your people do—
Then you are home, not perfect but not broken,
And every step has always led to YOU.