Sunday, December 13, 2009
INVICTUS
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.
William Ernest Henley
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.
William Ernest Henley
I've always liked this poem, and I saw the Invictus movie tonight. It was inspiring and cheered me up, despite the sports stuff. I mean, watching a movie about rugby? In America? If it had been any other sport (football, basketball, baseball--even soccer) I would have known what was going on--and when to get excited. =)
But I know that wasn't the point. =) You could practically ignore the games and watch the people come together, watch people be inspired, and watch a man who rose above the pettiness, meanness, and bad intentions and still be true to himself and his vision to achieve something great for himself and for others.
So, despite the rugby, it was a movie well worth watching. It appeals to the "higher self" in all of us and lets us leave feeling uplifted and happy.
KM
