Invictus
A recent film or poetry from the late 1800s? Both.
Just saw the movie starring Morgan Freeman (I have always like his work) and Matt Damon. It was directed by Clint Eastwood (and he does some good work too.) It is about Nelson Mandela and the South African Rugby team hosting the rugby world cup in 1995. If you are a student of leadership, a fan of sport, or believe in the power of humanity and our ability to heal then you probably want to see the movie. This movie takes some literary license and ends with the world cup. There are still real issues in South Africa but that shouldn’t detract from the movie. It is a movie, made in Hollywood, based on a historical event.
Invictus is the title of a poem by William Ernest Hensley written in 1875. It is a poem Mandela had with him during his time in prison. In the movie, Mandela gives Damon, the captain of the team, a copy of the poem.
Here it is for you;
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.
Now for the rest of the story. One account I read states that Mandela actually gave the captain of the team a different poem. Either way, I enjoyed the movie.
I will talk about that other poem tomorrow and it is a great one.
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