Comments on: If-

If-

Elizabeth the Thirteenth — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:29:03 -0800

Michael Caine plays If- straight. Robert Morley hams If- up. Dennis Hopper misses a line or two, Harvey Keitel misses a whole stanza, and Grampa Simpson misses the point entirely. Joni Mitchell sings sublime. KeyKrusher raps ridiculous. Federer and Nadal go head to head, with commentary. International cricket pundits celebrate the Indian Premier League, Des Lynam toasts World Cup 98, and a failing football manager addresses a press conference. A teenager learns from an angel, and seven year old Humza learns If- for himself.

Translations in French, German, Romanian, Russian, Turkish and Ukrainian. Previously and previously.

By: Rustic Etruscan

Rustic Etruscan — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:53:32 -0800

I like how the French translation preserves the rhyme scheme, but makes every fourth line an octosyllabic after three alexandrines. The English provides no base for that, but it was a good choice.

By: silby

silby — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:56:45 -0800

Oh so this isn't the one about the white man's burden, I was a bit confused for a sec.

By: phylum sinter

phylum sinter — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:57:44 -0800

Humza is going to be an awesome guy if he manages to hold these foundations past the chaos of puberty.

By: oneswellfoop

oneswellfoop — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:12:43 -0800

Kipling's "If"? I was hoping it'd be Bread's "If", just to see Robert Morley recite "...then why can't I paint you?"

By: MUD

MUD — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:34:18 -0800

Richard Herring has a good stand-up routine about this poem, of which there does not appear to be any footage available on the internet. He has taken the time to write it down though, should you wish to get the gist.

By: sweetkid

sweetkid — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:51:09 -0800

This is one of my favorite posts in a while, thanks for this.

By: EmpressCallipygos

EmpressCallipygos — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:30:54 -0800

If - you are a Whovian, then the guy who plays the angel is going to make that 13th link pretty surreal for you.

By: emelenjr

emelenjr — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:08:06 -0800

I came in looking for Bread and was disappointed. You tell 'em, Telly.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:18:12 -0800

Kipling's "If"? I was hoping it'd be Bread's "If" I was hoping it'd be Lindsay Anderson's if...

By: Peach

Peach — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:36:06 -0800

I recite this to my students in the first class of every year, and they remember it all year long.

By: philip-random

philip-random — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:54:01 -0800

I was hoping it'd be Lindsay Anderson's if... Which got its title from the poem.

By: philip-random

philip-random — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:05:24 -0800

if ... the whole movie

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:48:56 -0800

Uplifting, wise and good.

By: Camofrog

Camofrog — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 22:03:00 -0800

My 2012 attention span needs to see/hear "then" within 15 seconds of "if," not 30 verses. No matter how wonderfully writtehey what's that over there

By: philip-random

philip-random — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:07:05 -0800

My 2012 attention span needs to see/hear "then" within 15 seconds of "if," not 30 verses I believe it's the third line: "If you can wait, and not be tired of waiting ... "

By: DanCall

DanCall — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 06:28:55 -0800

I know it's very open to parody and mocking, but I really, really love it. My favourite 2 bits are 'walk with kings', and 'never breathe a word about your loss'

By: Rash

Rash — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:06:56 -0800

I was hoping for Pink Floyd's If.

By: lysdexic

lysdexic — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 08:45:48 -0800

Silly self link If