Invictus poem by William Ernest Henley

The Invictus poem came to my attention recently when a movie of the same name was released about the story of South Africa's 1995 rugby world cup win and the role Nelson Mandela played in it. Invictus, which means unconquerable in Latin, was written by poet William Ernest Henley after he had a leg amputated.

Its a tale of affirmation and belief that no matter what happens to you in life, you can still determine your own destiny. Circumstances happen to everyone. Whether that is having your leg amputated (Henley). Or being locked in a prison for 27 years (Mandela). How fate turns out though is up to you.

Fate, or life, sometimes seems capricious and want to bring you to your knees in submission. Whatever 'night that covers' you, whatever darkness or oppression, you can hold your head high. Let fate bring its worst - I will not back down. It may take years, but you will see that I am unconquerable.

You may seek to put my spirit in chains, but it will not be shackled. You might make me bleed, but you wont break me. Like the movie Gladiator, you might think you have captured me by putting me in chains. But like Maximus, I will fight till the end. I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.

The poem Invictus

• In-depth analysis of the Invictus poem
• The Invictus movie