“Invictus” by William Ernest Henley [w/ Audio]

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.

5 thoughts on ““Invictus” by William Ernest Henley [w/ Audio]

  1. remaining a fan of your reading, whatever – I want to share a question: Is there an undertone of still being influenced by the way you were taught to read (poems) at school? – And here is another one: What might happen if you read not from your heart but from you gut? Have a good/day/night and thank you for posting and taking care, Yogi…

    Liked by 1 person

    • I don’t know believe I was ever taught to read poems in school. We did have assignments to read poems. I remember choosing McCrae’s “In Flander’s Fields” basically because it was short and lyrical enough to be easily memorized. But instruction about HOW to read was not really a thing. My post-secondary education was heavily in the Social Sciences, and so I didn’t really have that kind of class in undergrad or grad schools. So, I’m basically winging it, trying to find the rhythm that sings to me.

      As for your second question, I don’t really know how to respond as I’m not sure I understand what you mean.

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