Invictus

Written by William Ernest Henley the poem Invictus (Invincible in Latin) has inspired lots and lots of people around the world. I didn't know it.
I happened to see the film Invictus this weekend on TV. It shows an incident from the life of
Nelson Mandela, the South African Republic president. He was inspired by that poem too and shared his inspiration with millions. The film is directed by Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon are starring.
Enjoy the poem.The movie is excellent too.

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.

And if you want to hear it from a fantastic actor here is Alan Bates reciting it.

*This blogpost is dedicated to my Primary School classmate Katerina who died of cancer last week.