IF

If you can face your vulnerabilities challenging you

Answering critics when they question you,

If you can face up to challenges perplexing you

And can come out the last standing man too;

If you know your weaknesses, your drawbacks

Have your back to the wall,

And can, despite these, offer resilient fightbacks,

And can come out, standing 10 feet tall:

If you know you have been the grandmaster

Yet to all, have been the same,

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can do it all over again

No matter the doubts creeping in,

The incredible victory chain,

That made everyone proudly grin:

If you toss around losses

As you bandied about wins,

If you can bear your crosses

Through thick and thin;

If you can focus more

On defeat and on success,

And bring to the fore,

The determination of your prowess:

If you can keep your perspective

In this mired time,

If you can be still as effective

As you were in your prime;

If you can raise the game’s bar

No matter the consequence,

No matter suffering an odd or two scar,

There will be resurgence – of your once thorough dominance!