Which of these is your "IF"?

Question

*****

If

by E.E. Cummings

If freckles were lovely, and day was night,

And measles were nice and a lie warn't a lie,

Life would be delight,-

But things couldn't go right

For in such a sad plight

I wouldn't be I.

If earth was heaven, and now was hence,

And past was present, and false was true,

There might be some sense

But I'd be in suspense

For on such a pretense

You wouldn't be you.

If fear was plucky, and globes were square,

And dirt was cleanly and tears were glee

Things would seem fair,-

Yet they'd all despair,

For if here was there

We wouldn't be we.

*****

If

by Rudyard Kipling

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 waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

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 impostors 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;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss:

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Answer 1

if of an if of if i had to choose...?

i'll take both, thank you.

Answer 2

Never read the e.e. cummings before but, I can't say it does much for me, it sounds like the old nursery rhyme -

If all the world was apple pie,

and all the seas were ink.

If all the trees were bread and cheese,

Then what would we have to drink?

It is difficult to assess the Kipling since it has always been around since I began reading poetry.  The message of the poem is now dated, but there is a lot to admire in his skill with metre and rhyme....and it is enjoyable to read for that reason.

So, Kipling's poem would be my choice

Answer 3

Kipling "If" makes more sense to me.

I first heard this poem quoted by Gen. Mac Arthur.

Answer 4

Kipling's "If" holds a special place in my heart...an English teacher had it printed and framed for me when I graduated from High School. It still sits on my desk...I re-read it from time to time, remember the wisdom I gained from that teacher and also hoping I am on the track of being that (wo)man described in the poem.

Answer 5

I'll take them both, please.  

Answer 6

I have many times re-read Rudyard Kipling`s poem ``IF``.I have given it to many young people when they graduate from high school.If we could all follow his thinking and advice,how much better off we would all be.I`m still striving to become ``that Man`` or in my case ``That Woman``.

Answer 7

I love both of them: the first to teach children that all is not right with the world, and that's okay; the second to teach adults that we have the power to rise above the evil and the strife and tension of daily life.

Answer 8

Cummings is a bit of fun, and Kipling is a touch pompous, but in terms of good poetry, Kipling is easily the better.

Answer 9

i'm an ee cummings "if"  

i read somewhere that he broke the "rules" and didn't give a ratz azz...

in addition i like lower-case text... superficial i know....

Answer 10

I suppose the latter seems more able to properly describe my current situation... however, I might describe it a bit differently.

Answer 11

It depends on my mood state which if is if.

Answer 12

For me they go together.One is casual, but the other is formal; one is for  warm morning, but the other is for cold evening.

Answer 13

While I strive for Kipling, I am often sharing time with E.E.!  Interesting having these two side by side.

Answer 14

If morning mood should taint my answer

If the choice is based on which spoke to my heart

Then in this moment I'd have to say

The Kipling's "If" had its way.

ma

Answer 15

I very much enjoy the E.E. Cummings poem, but if I have to choose, then I choose Kipling...great poem, great advise.