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.
Notes
This poem is better known as Invictus and is included here under both names.
http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/80509-William-Ernest-Henley-Invictus--The-Unconquerable
This is also occasionally known as "I. M. R.T. HAMILTON BRUCE" (I.T. = in memoriam) since Henley often included those words in anthologies including this poem published after Hamilton Bruce died.
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Invictus
From guest Mohammed (contact)
Not sure its Literally true, but the opinion expressed is not without merit. Life is a game that is played with a grin. -
Another excellent poem by a very good writer and, like many good writers, he gives us some memorable phrases and mottoes.
"I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul."
Jim -
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Title?
Hi Jim, is there a reason this famous poem is missing its well known title, 'Invictus'? Most educated sources reference it accordingly, e.g.
www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/221.html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/292517/Invictus
http://www.associatedc ontent.com/article/1518646/analysis_of_we_henleys_poem_invictus.html -
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PPS
A quick search shows we already have it under the prefered title.
http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/80509-William-Ernest-Henley-Invictus--The-Unconquerable
I'll do a bit of cross referencing.
Jim -
Ouch
I cannot be certain as the posting pre-dates me but my uneducated self
would imagine an earlier team member may have found this anthologised with only the first line as a title indication.
If as you say, "Invictus" is the title of prefeence by most fans and academics (and who am I to gainsay that) then it makes sense to do a bit of adjusting.
Watch this space.
Jim
PS thanks for making me aware of the problem I DO appreciate it.
Jim
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poets
From guest Nina (contact)
this is a great poem that he wrote. In school I started to read this in front of my class. To me some of the words were hard to say but im only in the 6th grade but i still like to read his poems -
God's in His Heaven
The poet has very nicely conveyed the message of self-dependence for success and to avoid disappointment one has to be the master of his/her soul. God's in His Heaven, All's Right with the World -
this is my favorite poem of all time. there is so much strength in these words. a soul that could never be conquered.
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I was reading about Nelson Mandela while he was in prison and it caused me to be in awe to know that he attributed to this poet, and this poem as a main source of inspiration. He would read this poem often to refresh his spirit so that he could be strong enough to withstand his stay in the hell hole he was placed in for going against Apartheid. The poem is very powerful, and speaks to the will of man to survive in times of struggle. I am happy that when I was searching for this poet on the Internet it lead me to OP.
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This is a poem infused with the courage and determination that only someone who has suffered greatly can ever impart to art. As a boy, one of Henley's legs was amputated because of an infection. The doctor wanted to remove the other leg as well, but Henley refused to allow it. He eventually recovered and though crippled didn't allow his disability to set the course of his life for him. He said that it was this formative experience that provided the inspiration for "Invictus." In this poem, which was criticized in its day for its supposed paganism ("gods" instead of God and man as answerable only to himself), Henley elevated self-reliance to the pinnacle of human virtues, in lines that resonate more fully in the heart and sinews than a thousand readings of Emerson's famous essay or Ann Rand's novels. There is no poem in the English language, with the exception of Tennyson's "Ulysses," that expresses as nobly or heroicly the gospel of individualism. In an age when most people shirk their duties or blame others for their failures, "Invictus" is a needed tonic for the irresolute and misguided among us to take responsibility for their own lives and work out their own salvation.
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Great poetry comes from great suffering! One of my favourite poems of power, strength and the will not to give up. Each line is intense and every stanza builds this superb surrounding of survival.
Edited on May 17, 12:54 because ''. -
I have sat here and read this through 3 times and I cannot believe what an impact those last 2 lines in particular have had on me. It has helped to cement my recent attitude change during a very sad time of my life. I AM the captain of my soul.
~Von~
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oh wow this one is just so beautiful and inspirational, I printed it off and put it on the front of my binder... I especially love 'I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul' because it just hits you that you control where you end up because your life decisions are yours alone to make
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Oh god...this is such an inspiration to read, i Can't believe I'm the first to comment on it....There isnt much to say on it, except that recommend anyone who feels weak at the knees cause reality bites them in the ass...It'll make you feel, just, " unconquerable" god knows i did...I used to have this on the threshold of my room...it has always given me strength.
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