Invictus

Sometime back I watched a movie, Invictus. The movie is based on a book by John Carlin, Playing The Enemy: Nelson Mandela and The Game That Changed a Nation. In the movie Nelson Mandela quotes the poem Invictus, written by W.E. Henley, which inspired him to “stand when all he wanted to do was lie down.”

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.

Where…XVI

Where death do not
spring a surprise.
Where death is just
a change in disguise.
Where death calms the
body as the soul rise.

Where death is a stop
over before refueling.
Where death redresses pain,
facilitates soul’s healing.
Where death is not a dread;
just an elapsing feeling.

Where…XIII

Where bullets ripe the
body, also the soul.
Where fear of death
engulfs not one but all.
Where the duty stands
before the weak and tall.

Where fields are “green”
with films of blood.
Where death is not glorious
but in unceremonious thud.
Where cannons and shells speak,
rest all are fused dud!

Where all wars are fought
for a noble cause as they say.
Where exaggeration of victory is
painted over trepidation and dismay.
Where will my destiny lead
or will it be my last fray?

Where…VIII

Where is
my goal, dear?
Where is
my soul, dear?
Where is
my foul, dear?

Where I fear not the
future but live in today.
Where strong is my voice
and conviction in my say.
Where I grow in mind
and spirit, day by day.

Where is
the Light, dear?
Where is
the Guide, dear?
Where is
the fight (against the lower self), dear?

Where my loneliness
is no more lonely.
Where my feelings
are striking and holy.
Where my heart grows
to embrace wholly.

Where…IV

Where love prevails
beyond the glory of physical.
Where soul is revered
beyond the shine of mythical.
Where values are cheered
beyond the cacophony of traditional.

Where heights are reached
not with competition.
Where “by hook or crook”
is not life’s mission.
Where shared are feelings
and cheered is reason.

Where…II

Where night whips
the feeling of fear.
Where tough gets
going, seldom hears.
Where heart sinks
in the depth so near.

Where soul is at bay
thinking to be in depth.
Where ‘to feel’ is
to die in debt.
Where emotions churn
the burning heck.

Where can I say
I lie down at the shrine?
Where can I say
that I’m fine?
Where can I say
let my glory shine?

Where questions are
more and answer none.
Where confusion kicks
and to cry is fun.
Where life is dead
and death on run.

Where mounts the
mountain of worry.
Where falls to fault
the height of glory.
Where cherished are
the sons of sorry.

Where never ending path
leads to nowhere.
Where every destination
is not so dear.
Where each step has
vastness so mere.