Comments on: Manvotional #5: “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:59:48 +0000

It would appear that many readers here have willfully disregarded Mr. Henley’s third line. This poem seeks to harbor all denominations and remind us all of our inconquerable soul. I have this in my office along with Kipling’s “If” and Picasso’s sketch of Don Quixote. Mighty is the pen.

By: Rhys

Rhys — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:46:34 +0000

this is a great poem. I think most of you miss the background though.

Invictus Maneo is latin for “I remain unconquered/unvanquished”.

which is the standard Armstrong crest motto.

the above picture is a derivative of that crest. google Invictus Maneo, or the Armstrong clan.

By: Violet Weed

Violet Weed — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:26:41 +0000

I love Invictus, it’s a great poem to shout out loud whilst biking up a steep mountain road… but it truly misses the point. No one ’stands alone’, not even me (although I have been living on my own since the age of 13, and now in my 60s… and most of my life I’ve lived alone, without ‘benefit’ of mate or pet. But not lonely. Still…. no one stands alone. God is always there, granting us Grace and laughing at His children’s hubris to think they are ‘masters of their fates’ and ‘captains of their souls’.

We are all going to be what we truly are now… dust in the wind, and masters of nothing.

By: Mike Fleming

Mike Fleming — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:27:04 +0000

Invictus was our father’s favorite poem. As a senior in High School, he was AAU Southeast Light Heavyweight weight lifting champion and heavyweight wrestling champion. He was the first Mr. CT in 1939 (actually Mr. Physical Culture of CT). He was the physical education and hand to hand combat instructor for the 508 PIR of the 82nd airborne, and pretty solidly “manned up” all his life. He was a great Dad and we will all miss him very much always.
Thanks for giving me a great way to share Invictus with my brother.

By: mery

mery — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:09:54 +0000

By: Lucy

Lucy — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:41:30 +0000

Manhood??!!!! This poem is about ANYONES courage & self-belief. It is a defiant stand against being broken or consumed by negativities in life. Whether your a man, woman or child. Its universal.

By: Micah

Micah — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:20:49 +0000

I like this poem because it makes you think alittle bit more about certain things.

By: genderkid

genderkid — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:06:13 +0000

It’s funny: I first read this in Annie On My Mind, a lesbian coming-of-age novel. So it isn’t a poem just for men, but for anyone in need of courage.

Great poem, thanks for reminding us of it!

By: Rashid

Rashid — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:16:55 +0000

“Invictus” captures the essence of manhood. In my view, this poem makes the assumption that men rely on the spirit of God–”whatever God one may follow”–for their unconquerable spirit. I had to memorize this poem during my college days and I definitely find it inspirational and encouraging, especially during an era when “whinning and crying” about things small and large, significant and insignificant, is the norm.

By: tomdawg

tomdawg — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:43:53 +0000

I am a Christian Man, strong as hell, hard as a rock. I love being a man, and thank my God every day that He made me one. No offense to women, but what man would want to walk around with a pussy, except perhaps a fag?
There is definitely a strong sense of defiant manliness captured by “Invictus”. I so admired the poem that I used the word Invictus as a name of a character in a book I am writing. We need more defiance and less compliance if we are to be true men.
Because I follow Christ, I do not love everything in the poem “Invictus” in that it seems to assume there are many gods, and that man will somehow escape accountability to the True and Living Creator God. Whitney’s “The Soul’s Captain” captures that accountability well.
I enjoy both poems. The key to being a real Christian Man is to realize that follow Christ doesn’t mean you become less Manly, more compliant to people, or certainly more feminine. Read “Why Men Hate Going To Church” and you will see what I mean.

By: Invictus « Never Too Late

Invictus « Never Too Late — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:32:30 +0000

[...] I meant to post this poem when I saw it here, but time slipped away from [...]

By: Brian Waala

Brian Waala — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:10:05 +0000

@Shaun van Huyssteen - Take life like a man don't be a spineless wiener

By: Jen Baker

Jen Baker — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:30:11 +0000

One of my all time favorite poems. Great to see it still rings true. Thanks!

By: zlindsey

zlindsey — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:20:06 +0000

I first read this poem when I was in 8th grade. It has stuck with me ever since.

By: zaken

zaken — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:22:56 +0000

A real man who was also a good Christian wrote this answer to Henley’s poem about a hundred years ago:

The Soul’s Captain

An Answer to “Invictus”

Art thou in truth?
Then what of him who bought thee with his blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood?

Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but him could bear-
The God who died that man might live
And endless glory share?

Of what avail thy vaunted strength
Apart from his vast might?
Pray that his light may pierce the gloom
That thou mayest see aright.

Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree,
Thou, captain of thy soul! Forsooth,
Who gave that place to thee?

Free will is thine-free agency,
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto him
To whom all souls belong.

Bend to the dust that “head unbowed,”
Small part of life’s great whole,
And see in him and him alone,
The captain of thy soul.

Orson F. Whitney