Of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I think whatever gods may be,
For My Unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstances,
I have not winced nor cried aloud,
Under the bludgeoninigs 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 shal 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.
By: William Ernest Henley
I first time heard this Poem in the movie with the same name "INVICTUS" a biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, President of Republic of South Africa and Matt Damon as François Pienaar, captain of South Africa's world cup winning rugby team Springboks. from that day I'm finding inspiration from it.
I found the movie and the poem both very much inspirational and they made me think. This poem inspired and helped Mandela in his time and prison and to continue his fight. The poem tells about never giving up in any situation or condition because we'll have our soul with us even if we loose everything. Our fate and soul is in our hand how we carry on in our life, how we fight our inner demons and come against all odds to be successful person and a leader.
Fighting against the world is easy in comparison to fighting against our own errors and in-capabilities. Its easy to blame others but the toughest task is to stand and take the blame not for our own faults but that of others also. This is the true nature of a real and truthful leader. A real leader is the one who gives the credit of success to his/her followers or subordinates but takes the blame for their fault. Leadership is not running a successful organisation or group ahead but bringing a failed one from bottom of pit to the top of the heap. It is also sometimes going against your own people for their good even though they may see it as wrong at that time but latter they will know the real meaning of decision.
The movie Invictus shows a very good example of how to be a excellent leader. How Nelson Mandela brought people of his country together through the sport rugby and how François Pienaar inspired his team mates to be victorious. Every scene of the movie makes us think about us and our goals.
