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 E. HENLEY
I have been informed by my younger brother,
who is given to knowing these things,
that the above poem is
a favorite of my father,
who is in his 91st year.
Could it be that his longevity --
thru Depression, World War,
building a business, and 6 kids --
is the result of the philosophy
in this poem?
Some see this verse as dark,
and yet I can see Determination and Optimism,
and I'm glad I got so much of it from him.
posted by Michael McCafferty @ 1:48 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
your mother's favotite poem was 'first fig' by edna st vincent millay. 'my candle burns at both ends...' what does that say about her? the framed copy of that short poem is in her casket with her. some people think it's about work and industry, and that would certainly apply, but the truth is it's about love....????
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