Words to live by.

Published on January 22, 2005 By dharmagrl In Misc

This is my favorite poem. The last stanza of this is what's going to be inscribed on my memorial plaque.

For no particular reason (other then I felt like it) I give you:

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 unbow'd.

Beryond 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.

(W. E. HENLEY)

Comments (Page 1)

Spc Nobody Special

on Jan 23, 2005

it's nice. not a limerick mind you, but nice........

p.s. i liked the pic of you and your brother

web_poet

on Jan 24, 2005

Well, Dharma, long time no see. Happy new year. Hope you still remember me. Why don't you reply to my posts or comments nowadays!

Your posts are always great.
"I am the captain of my soul
...master of my fate"

that's what I like most but sometimes I doubt if I have that much confidence-life is so stupid at times, don't you think so ?

dharmagrl

on Jan 24, 2005

p.s. i liked the pic of you and your brother

Aww, thank you! I kind of like it too. I miss my big bro....

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

that's what I like most but sometimes I doubt if I have that much confidence

Don't doubt yourself. As the poem says, 'Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody, but unbow'd'...that's all you have to do. Hold your head up, take whatever life can throw at you, and never give up. There have been times when I've thought that I would break and fall, but I haven't yet. Be tough....I have confidence that you can do it!

I'll add you to my favorites list...I haven't been around much lately so I haven't been keeping track of what you've been writing. You can always email me, you know...dharmagirl69@gmal.com

dynamaso

on Jan 24, 2005

Dharma,

I've taken a copy of this poem and stuck it on my wall at work. I knew the last couple of lines but I hadn't heard the whole poem. I like to think I am in control of my own personal destiny, to the extent of knowing my own mind, at least. This poem will serve as a reminder.

Thanks for this.

Cheers,

Maso

dharmagrl

on Jan 24, 2005

I like to think I am in control of my own personal destiny, to the extent of knowing my own mind, at least. This poem will serve as a reminder.

That's the point of the entire poem, I think. Knowing that whatever life throws at you, you can still hold your head up high and be unafraid of whatever comes your way.

I have the poem framed in my bathroom, next to the mirror so I can see it when I get myself ready in the mornings. it really helps me out some days....days when everything is going wrong and I'm feeling particularly beaten and battered by life.

I don't know if you're familiar with Timothy McVeigh - he was the guy who orchestrated and was executed for the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City - but he used this poem as his last staement befoe he was given the lethal injection.

dynamaso

on Jan 24, 2005

I do know the name and what he did. I didn't know about him using this poem as his final statement, though. At least he remained a man of his convictions, I guess, although I don't approve of violence of any sort.

I now have the poem on my wall next to my PC. I really like the lines: 'I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.' Henley must have been an Agnostic, yes?

Shovelheat

on Jan 24, 2005

Sorry. I just bring myself to like it knowing that scumbag baby killer chickenshit McVeigh used it.

dharmagrl

on Jan 25, 2005

At least he remained a man of his convictions, I guess, although I don't approve of violence of any sort.

I don't either, but you're right...at least he remained true to his convictions. That, to me, is an admirable trait. I'm not condoning what he did....but I have to give him some respect for sticking to his guns through to the very end.

I really like the lines: 'I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.' Henley must have been an Agnostic, yes?

I believe so, yes. I'll see if I can find a bio on him and send you a link.

island_gurl12

on Jan 25, 2005

Sweet, something to tell us we decide what we want to be and we need to accept the consequences and deal with them. At the end of the journey we should be proud of what we've achieved.

Shovelheat

on Jan 26, 2005

That, to me, is an admirable trait. I'm not condoning what he did....but I have to give him some respect for sticking to his guns through to the very end.

I'm sorry ,and troll me if you must, But I just can't find anything admirable at all about McVeigh,except for the fact that he's dead.

TaBoo Tenente

on Jan 26, 2005

me=bleeding heart liberal.

what makes someone do something terrible? does TM kill all those people because he's an a-hole, or because something is wrong with him?

before i say the other thing on my mind, i should say that for the most part i always enjoy your posts, dharma, and more often than not i'm simpatico with your intent. i also like the poem and always have.

but i do not think the poem is about convictions or sticking to them. the poem is about free will and being alone in the universe. no one else makes our decisions for us. there's comfort in that. . .as long as we are also capable of accepting our limitations. i dont know why TM spoke this before he went away, but i hope he was accepting his mistakes rather than arrogantly sticking to convictions.

if you accept free will, then you must also be able to change or you may end up like TM, or charles manson. . .which is to say, propping up convictions for things you do not truly believe. conviction is the same thing as addiction.

TBT

Shovelheat

on Jan 26, 2005

if you accept freewill, then you must also be able to change or you may end up like TM, or charles manson. . .which is to say, propping up convictions for things you do not truly believe. conviction is the same thing as addicition.

My God, that's well said. It's a shame, but I feel, "my conviction" I guess if I'm honest, is that this poem is forever defiled. But then like you:

i hope he was accepting his mistakes rather than arrogantly sticking to convictions.

I just have never got over that pain of that day, since I live so close to OKC and know people that were affected. But then, sigh...that's just me.

TaBoo Tenente

on Jan 26, 2005

and it's a very fair thing to say, shovel. i have no direct connection to OKC, and though i experienced the bombing as one experiences tragedy, nevertheless it's not the same. i don't blame you or anyone for such passionate responses. . .i just wish, in general, we could look at murderers and other criminals we see as the "worst sort" as human beings who come from somewhere. if we don't do something to fix the "somewhere", then there will be more TMs and Mansons and Dahmers. we have to be able to change, too, and see past our own blinding conviction of self-righteousness before we can start fixing whatever it is about our society that produces individuals capable of bombings and serial killings.

TBT

Shovelheat

on Jan 26, 2005

Good points, TaBoo, (Boy, is Dharma gonna be pissed when she checks in and see's how her threads been hi-jacked). Very good points.

Link

TaBoo Tenente

on Jan 26, 2005

you're right shovel. i just read your article, and inject your post back into the active forum. thanks.

TBT

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