Invictus
by William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Hey Wes - thanks for posting this poem. I saw the movie INVICTUS earlier this summer and during the movie I realized I was unfamiliar with this poem that so inspired Nelson Mandela when he was in prison; I had meant to look it up but forgot to. It's a great piece.
ReplyDeletethanks I will have to see it
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