Sometimes, life seems to be a lot of uphill going. A few of us in the blogging community are finding this at the moment, none more so – and more unfairly so – than our kind host of this meme, Emma at Crazy with Twins. <–(Yes, read that.)
The great explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874 – 1922) had high regard for Kipling, the poet. He had three verses of the famous poem ‘If’ engraved below the bridge of his ship, the Quest – the last vessel he sailed in. At the start of the voyage he addressed his men:
“You see those lines which I have engraved below the bridge? Those verses are for the young men, but they will do for the old ones, too. There may come a time when the seas break over us and we shall wipe the salt water out of our eyes to read them. That is why I put them there.”
(As reported by The Chicago Tribune, 18 September 1921)
We are each of us explorers – through the blogging scene, and through life generally. We have a duty to inspire one another.
And inspire us you do! Yet again, fantastic words from Firefly Phil! I had to go and re-read Kipling’s IF after reading this. Such a brilliant and uplifting poem. Your quote make me think I should read more history. Any books you’d recommend to me that I might like?
Thankyou not just for linking up such a great quote, but for your continual support for me and my family lately. It is people like you who put the community into blogging. xx
You are so right!
I love Kipling’s ‘If’ and read it to my son when he was a tiny. Whilst I’d known it for a long time, for the first time, I think I really began to understand what Kipling meant. Thankyou for this.
kipling was a wonderful word smith, the lesser.known books of poetry are amazing. I read them to R all the time and its great to see them inspire her to try and write poetry.
It’s really hard for me in the past months .. It’s nice that people notice & finds time to help by inspiring me/us with nice words.