If...

A poem in the spirit of Rudyard Kipling's "If"

If you want to live forever

       You have to live to die

If you want to touch the heavens

You have to live beneath the sky

 

If you want to be remembered

       You must forget your own

If you want to heal the wounded

       You must feel the hurt below

 

If you long to see the sunrise

       You must hold out through the night

If you long to have the strength

       You’ll learn when not to fight

 

If you want to live forever

       You’ll for another die

Then you’ll touch the heavens

       You’ll teach angels how to fly

Author's Note

My poetry teacher told us to create our own version of "If" by Rudyard Kipling.