Quotations and Literature Forum

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 unbaved.
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 straight the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll,
i am the master of my fate
i am the captain of my soul.


please help

This is a famous poem by a British poet, William Ernest Henley and it is titled "Invictus" - meaning unbeaten or unconquerable in Latin.

It is saying that the writer's life is and has been full of misery and blackness and terrible difficulty and disaster but, in spite of every trial, he has managed to face up to it and battle on, even though it never seems to get better. He has never lost hope, or given in to circumstance, and just given up, but stayed strong and determined in spirit.

Because he has stayed strong in this way, he has self respect, he himself directs how he continues to act and decides his own future. He expects his future to continue to be pretty grim but is prepared to carry on as best he can.

"I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul."

_________________
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
e e cummings (1894 - 1962)

That's the story of my life...

If you Google invictus meaning, you will get many explanations of the poem too numerous to mention here.