I'm looking for a poem by Kipling that mentions something like this: If you can live without pills, stress etc. then you can live like a dog. Please help

INNER STRENGTH
If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on you, when through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can do of all these things - - - ,
THEN - - -
You are probably the family dog.

­ from John Robert Mallernee.

Check the classical poets list for Kipling's If. That's the original of the pastiche (do I mean that Hugh? I'm sure there's a more exact term I can't remember.) ilza posted above, which does sound like the one you actually wanted.

I like that one, I hadn't come across it before, but If has rather been done to death now and needs a rest.



Post Edited (11-24-03 15:27)