TCDE-Team at 14:19, 19 April 2026

2026-04-19T14:19:52Z

TCDE-Team at 22:10, 18 December 2024

2024-12-18T22:10:09Z

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''If—'' is a poem written by [[Branford Bryan Angell]], nephew of [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], published in the [[The Boy's Own Paper]] in april 1919.

== If— ==
[[File:the-boy-s-own-paper-1919-04-p301-if.jpg|thumb|380px|right|[[The Boy's Own Paper]] (april 1919, p. 301)]]

'''(With Apologies To Mr. Rudyard Kipling.)'''

If you can keep your "length" when all about you 
Are losing theirs and letting runs be scored; 
If you can trust your balls and batsmen doubt you 
And you can field long time and not be bored; 
If you can bowl and not be proud of bowling, 
And, being hit about, don't "lose your hat," 
Or being "taken off" don't start not fielding; 
And yet be ready, in your turn, to bat.

If you can hit while keeping still your right leg, 
If you can block and not make blocks your all 
If you can meet with Century and Duck's Egg, 
And learn respect for him who bowls the ball; 
If you can keep from saying the ball has broken, 
When both the umpires say that it has not, 
And come out with a grin and smile for all men, 
And tell the next-to-go-in what you wot.

If you can do your whole best in your innings; 
If you can play for side and not for self; 
If you can make but little of your winnings 
And try to lose sight of the word "myself"; 
If you can fill the unforgiving minute 
With seventy sevens' worth of well-earned runs, 
Your place's at Lords' and wheresoe'er there's Cricket, 
And what is less, you'll be "some knuts," my sons!

{{footer_periodicals}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:19, 19 April 2026
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	'''(With Apologies To Mr. Rudyard Kipling.)'''		'''(With Apologies To Mr. Rudyard Kipling.)'''

	If you can keep your "length" when all about you~~<br />~~
	Are losing theirs and letting runs be scored;~~<br />~~		<poem>
	If you can trust your balls and batsmen doubt you~~<br />~~		If you can keep your "length" when all about you
	And you can field long time and not be bored;~~<br />~~		Are losing theirs and letting runs be scored;
	If you can bowl and not be proud of bowling,~~<br />~~		If you can trust your balls and batsmen doubt you
	And, being hit about, don't "lose your hat,"~~<br />~~		And you can field long time and not be bored;
	Or being "taken off" don't start not fielding;~~<br />~~		If you can bowl and not be proud of bowling,
			And, being hit about, don't "lose your hat,"
			Or being "taken off" don't start not fielding;
	And yet be ready, in your turn, to bat.		And yet be ready, in your turn, to bat.

	If you can hit while keeping still your right leg,~~<br />~~		If you can hit while keeping still your right leg,
	If you can block and not make blocks your all~~<br />~~		If you can block and not make blocks your all
	If you can meet with Century and Duck's Egg,~~<br />~~		If you can meet with Century and Duck's Egg,
	And learn respect for him who bowls the ball;~~<br />~~		And learn respect for him who bowls the ball;
	If you can keep from saying the ball has broken,~~<br />~~		If you can keep from saying the ball has broken,
	When both the umpires say that it has not,~~<br />~~		When both the umpires say that it has not,
	And come out with a grin and smile for all men,~~<br />~~		And come out with a grin and smile for all men,
	And tell the next-to-go-in what you wot.		And tell the next-to-go-in what you wot.

	If you can do your whole best in your innings;~~<br />~~		If you can do your whole best in your innings;
	If you can play for side and not for self;~~<br />~~		If you can play for side and not for self;
	If you can make but little of your winnings~~<br />~~		If you can make but little of your winnings
	And try to lose sight of the word "myself";~~<br />~~		And try to lose sight of the word "myself";
	If you can fill the unforgiving minute~~<br />~~		If you can fill the unforgiving minute
	With seventy sevens' worth of well-earned runs,~~<br />~~		With seventy sevens' worth of well-earned runs,
	Your place's at Lords' and wheresoe'er there's Cricket,~~<br />~~		Your place's at Lords' and wheresoe'er there's Cricket,
	And what is less, you'll be "some knuts," my sons!		And what is less, you'll be "some knuts," my sons!
			</poem>

If— - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 14:19, 19 April 2026

TCDE-Team at 22:10, 18 December 2024