When

Response to Kipling’s “If” 

When the world of men lies all around you,

And you don’t know whether to fight or run,

When you’re overcome by those who doubt you,

And the life you built is coming undone. 

When you’re told to be demure like a lady,

While expected to rise and lead like a man,

When the burden feels too heavy, but you’re ready,

To carry it forward while rewriting the plan. 

When you must stand tall but feel unseen,

And your voice is spurned as sharp or absurd,

When the mirror reflects their judgments, keen,

Yet you stay strong, unbroken by their word.

When beauty becomes the price they demand,

And double standards shake your ground,

When they dismiss your ideas with a wave of the hand,

You’ll learn silence can be the most powerful sound.

When ambition feels like forbidden territory,

And your kindness is seen as weakness, not grace,

When the roles they write don’t fit your story,

You’ll find strength to hold your dignity in place.

When you learn that courage is not perfection,

That failure’s a teacher, not a foe,

When you find stillness amid reflection,

You’ll know how to let life’s wisdom flow.

When you can listen to yourself through the noise,

And trust your truth above their lies,

When you rise with quiet, resilient poise,

You’ll see your worth through your own eyes.

When you hold both triumph and tragedy,

And treat them as threads in life’s design,

When you claim your place without apology— 

The world is yours, oh daughter of mine.