There are two poems that I have carried in my wallet since the late 1960s. One of them I've written about before in Two roads diverged... and the other is "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley. It's a little embarrassing to admit that, until a few minutes ago, I didn't know anything about Mr. Henley, only that his words "spoke" to me and they helped me through more than a few rough spots in my life. Invictus was reportedly written in 1875 while Mr. Henley was in the hospital recovering from the amputation of one of his legs just below the knee. He had suffered with tuberculosis of the bone since the age of twelve.
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 unbow'd.
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.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing, Becky! Great poems to carry in your pocket for life...
Lisa
Small-leaved Shamrock
A light that shines again
100 Years in America
Post a Comment
The ability to comment has been turned off for all blog posts effective 21 May 2018. Kinexxions has been inactive for more than two years and most comments have come to me directly via email from readers but more than a few were simply spam. My desire is to keep the blog available to the public since there is value in what has been published, particularly posts dealing with family history.
I am still extremely interested in hearing from readers who might be related and have questions or simply want contact with a distant cousin. Please contact me directly via email at kinexxions@gmail.com
This action is also being taken partially due to the General Data Protection Regulation aka "GDPR" going into effect on 25 May 2018. Even though it is a regulation implemented by the European Union that primarily affects businesses and corporations, it governs how data about people can be used. That includes comments left on blog posts, thus the ability to comment is no longer available.
Becky Wiseman - - kinexxions@gmail.com
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.