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If you can see the good in everyone
If you do not condemn the less fortunate
If you can speak the plain unvarnished truth
When all about you are prattling prevarications
If you are patient with those who lack luck
If, when faced with stupid bias you do not duck or dive
Or respond to haters with hatred
Or respond to the wicked with evil.
If you can modestly accept success and failure –
Twin deceivers at the feast of life –
If you can face up to disaster with smiles and laughter
If you can bear to look into the mirror
& truly see what others see
If you can accept that your words can be twisted
If your heart is big  enough to glory in the success of others
If you can accept life-threatening illness without self-pity
If instead of “Why me?” you can sit for hours nursing parent or child
If you can smile and laugh when all about you is loss upon loss
If you can spot hypocrisy by a country mile
&  damn the pompous with a winning smile
If you can skip the nets of race, nationality, religion, class
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a woman my son!