Kipling's "If" as advice to our accompanists

[Rsachi]

With apologies to no one in particular, and appreciating our wonderful accompanists who toil through the Season:

• If you can keep your head when all about you
  Are losing theirs and wondering what the raga is,
  If you can trust yourself when all singers doubt you,
  But make allowance for their not knowing too;
  If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
  Or being denied slots, don’t be mean to others,
  Or being berated, don’t give way to berating,
  And yet don’t look too proud, nor talk too snooty:
  
  If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
  If you can compose—and not sing your songs always;
  If you can meet with Awards and Cash Prizes
  And treat those two impostors just the same;
  If you play your turn long after meandering alapanas,
  And so hold on when there is nothing in you
  Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
  
  If you can play to crowds and keep your virtue,
  Or walk with Sabha Secretaries—nor lose the common touch,
  If neither critics nor adoring rasikas can hurt you,
  If all listeners count with you, but none too much;
  If you can fill the unforgiving minute
  With sixty seconds’ worth of soulful music,
  Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
  And—which is more—you’ll be a Kalanidhi, no less!

[arasi]

Sachi,
Continuing your theme...

To Accompanists...

If your art is good, good for you!
Good for us, the listeners--we cheer you.

Your play is still good, whatever we say--
Words are empty, compared to your work

You frame the portrait the singer paints
You shine the light on his or her art

You and us, we are a team, surely--
For the 'main' on the stage to shine!