If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and aiming things at you; If you can leave a class to work without you And guarantee they'll keep hard at it, too; If you can mark and not grow tired of marking, Of counting money, writing your Reports; If you can stand the end-of-term sky-larking, And still have spirit left to watch the Sports; If you can talk, nor lose your voice with talking, Give punishments without a biased mind; If you can stop an idle mob from squawking At every doubtful meaning they can find; If you can dream — and not make dreams your master; Or talk with Heads — nor lose the common touch; If you can save your subject from disaster By tactfully not plugging it too much; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted and laughed at by moronic fools; If you're prepared to watch equipment broken By 'scholars' who have scant regard for rules; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With ninety seconds' worth of distance run, Teaching's for you, and everything that's in it, And — which is more — you're welcome to it, son! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE [EXCELLENT] BALLADE OF CHARITIE by THOMAS CHATTERTON A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 2 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN THE CONCLUSION OF A LETTER TO THE REV. MR. C --. by MARY BARBER PSALM 65 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE TRAGEDY OF THE ISLE DE SAINTE CROIX - 1605 by LEONIE M. CUMMING |