Our very first piece will be the fantastic poem, Invictus. Invictus is Latin for "unconquerable". This poem was written by William Henley. This was Nelson Mandela's favorite poem. While he was in jail, when he just wanted to give up, he memorized it and would recite it. This is the poem that pushed him forward. You may also realize that it never actually says the word Invictus. That is because it was published with no title, someone else gave it its title.
Invictus
By William Henly
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.
(RECOMMENDED!!!) If you would like to listen to Morgan Freeman, who played Mandela in the movie Invictus, here you go:
You did read that correctly, there is a movie with Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela that bears the name of this poem. The movie Invictus is about the South African rugby team, the Springboks, and how the newly elected president, Nelson Mandela (played by, you guessed it, Morgan Freeman), with the help of the Springboks captain, Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon), untied South Africa through the game of Rugby. I highly recommend it.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Springboks captain, Francois Pienaar
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Mandela and Pienaar shake hands after South Africa wins Rugby World Cup
