Invictus

By William Ernest Henley

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.

Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/invictus-by-william-ernest-henley#ixzz327t15DbJFamily Friend Poems

TPCASTT

Title:

Slave

Paraphrase:

Obstacles,

Hardest of the hard,

The luck I had

Was appreciated.

The luck of the draw

I'm not mournful.

The luck that's given

gave me pain.

Past pain

there is sorrow,

and the devil

seeks me.

No matter what,

Always,

I have a shield:

I am me.

Connotation:

"Night" - The obstacles that stand in my way. The things that block my path to righteousness.

"Black as the Pit" - The most painful of moments. Pain and suffering.

"Bloody" - A state of depression or great sadness in one's life.

Attitude:

Gloomy

Shift:

9, 14

Title:

Shielding Pain

Theme:

Block Pain

Reflection:

I liked this poem because it truly connected with myself and the way I think. I think that the only way for me to be happy is to be cautious of the anxiety and realize that it IS a threat, but can only be handled with by blocking it out.