Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the blugeonings 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.
William Earnest Henley
I have always loved this poem. Henley was ill with tuberculosis, lost his foot to the disease, but kept his courage. Saturday I saw the movie "Invictus" and was delighted to learn that this poem sustained Nelson Mandela while he was in prison. Hearing Morgan Freeman read the poem was a special treat. The movie was a bit predictable but it was uplifting. I love sports movies (though I had no idea rugby was so violent!). I highly recommend the movie.
Monday, December 21, 2009
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1 comments:
a wonderful poem, indeed. We may be heartbroken, yet we shall not be broken and we'll hold our heads up high
I had to smile at your comment about rugby ... having gone through the public schooling that I did, I was "brought up" on rugby and love the game with a passion. There is never violence on the stands because all the violence takes place on the pitch. (And if you think that's violent ... you need to watch Australian Rule's Football ... it's similar to rugby but without any rules of note)
Merry Xmas x
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