The following is an extraction of a poem that was written by W E Henley at a time in his life when he felt depressed after loosing one of his legs. He finds himself in mental and physical agony and tries to lift up his courage.
INVICTUS
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 straight the gate
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
The word Invictus is a Latin word meaning unconquerable or undefeated. It reminds us that life is not easy and that we should find courage in times of defeat, and not loose our dignity despite the indignities that life sometimes holds before us. When we find ourselves in dark situations, when we start to lose hope, when life overwhelms us, we must remind ourselves that the answer lies deep in ourselves. Like the phoenix that rises from the dead, we too need to rise above our challenges. Others are not responsible for our lives. We are the masters of our own fate. We are the captains of our lives. [read more]