#w.e. henley

[lionofchaeronea]

Portrait of William Ernest Henley, Auguste Rodin, 1882

(Photo credit: Sailko/Wikimedia Commons)

[pocketsizedpoetry]

Invictus by W.E. Henley. Written in 1875 while in the hospital undergoing tubercolosis treatment. Published in 1888

[historicalshenanigans]

I am so sorry to hear about your trouble. All poets love their mothers, and as I worship mine I can understand how you feel.

Wilde, the poet W.E. Henley, when the latter's mother was ill

Happy Mother’s Day! Here, enjoy a sweet quote about how much Oscar loves his mum.

[lionofchaeronea]

“Invictus” - W.E. Henley (1849-1903)

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.

The Human Soul (Towards a Better World), Luis Ricardo Falero, 1894

[radioactivepeasant]

Ah, the odd coincidences of history and literature! Poet W. E. Henley, author of Invictus as I recall, had connections to not one but three authors whose work I have collected. 1. He was H.G. Wells' editor for The Time Machine 2. His little daughter Margaret was a friend of James Barrie, and she coined the name "Wendy" by referring to James as her "fwendy-wendy" when she was four. 3. Henley himself was a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, and was the primary inspiration for the appearance and personality of the infamous Long John Silver.

[stephanieswanquills]

Happy American Independence Day!

As I was reading this poem for this weekend’s video, I found more and more that it would be better fitting if I released it on the 4th of July. In a time of such uncertainty in our global politics, the surge in violence and prejudice against minority groups, we cannot lose hope that things can get better. Fear is a powerful weapon, but it is also fragile.

I want to dedicate this narration to all those who feel hopeless, unsure, and scared. May your souls stay steadfast, and your will never broken. May those with power protect those without. May you all be the masters of your fate.

Requests and general feedback would be greatly appreciated! I’m always looking to improve my work!

[fabulousthingsaid]

I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul

W.E. Henley

[excusemewhileipoem]

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

W.E. Henley, Invictus