Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" summarized what his son should do to become an honorable man. This parody tells what Hillary Clinton would say to girls who might want to run for high office.

© May, 2008 Helen Heightsman Gordon, Ed. D. All Rights Reserved
For permission, write P. O. Box 6724
Santa Barbara, CA 93160-6724

Hillary’s Message to Girls
By Helen Heightsman Gordon
(inspired by Rudyard Kipling)

If you can keep your cool when all about you
Are losing theirs and saying you’re to blame;
If you can trust yourself when those who doubt you
Are telling lies to sully your good name;
If you can take the ups and downs of voting,
If you can lose but not give up your hopes;
If you can glow in triumph without gloating
And bounce back when they’ve got you on the ropes;
If you can judge but never be judgmental,
Show common sense but speak poetic prose;
If you can be both powerful and gentle
And charming when befriending former foes;
If you can overcome the double standard
Imposed by hypocrites and biased news
And blaze a trail, where others have meandered,
A path for those who follow in your shoes;
If you can fill each 60-second minute
With 90 seconds worth of time well spent,
Completing every task once you begin it,
Then go, Girl! You can be the President!