Here is to you my child A few words from a man I hope is wise Don't give your heart so soon This realm is cold and callous Filled with poets and pirates aloft Yours is to hear their words But take care to see the hearts too Not all that shimmers should attract Be strong enough to see the beauty in something grey The wild turns of the climes pale compared to what a man could do Giving you dreams and then rob you of will Or make you supper but knock off the stool as you settle to feast Yet all hope is not lost Sometimes you meet an Angel along They hold your hands even when its hard to do so And dream dreams along with you as you go For those mighty few in this wild lands Live and live my girl But know that life is not picnic But like a Larkspur adorning arid lands Such is this place we call our world A study in contrasts Love and pain Sweet and sour For every smile you must war a frown And with the wisdom of age you must waste away a little These is all I give and I hope they comfort you along the way
I read Kipling's IF as a child and I wished my father's whip was as lasting as Kipling's word. I am obviously not the wisest of men as am still very green in years myself ,but I do hope one day my daughter would read this and learn a little of life.