Unconquered

INVICTUS
by: William Ernest Henley

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.

Invictus means unconquered.

I first came across this poem in my third year in high school. And I thank my adviser and English teacher Ms. Eltagon for that. (I haven't heard from her for ten years now)

Looking back, this poem has influenced me in more ways than one. “Adamant thoughts” is a product of “unconquerable soul.” However, I would never make my soul too unconquerable. In fact it has been conquered – by Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Here is a background of the author, courtesy of wikipedia.

At the age of 12 Henley became a victim of tuberculosis of the bone. In spite of this, in 1867 he successfully passed the Oxford local examination as a senior student. His diseased foot had to be amputated directly below the knee; physicians announced the only way to save his life was to amputate the other. Henley persevered and survived with one foot intact. He was discharged in 1875, and was able to lead an active life for nearly 30 years despite his disability. With an artificial foot, he lived until the age of 54. "Invictus" was written from a hospital bed.