INVICTUS

Back in school, when I was a student, I loved singing competitions as equally as I detested recitations. For me, singing came from the heart. Whereas reciting poems was from the minds.. of other people. It didn’t make sense to be the person being lauded for delivering other people’s works. Poetry to me, was a tedious task..

As I grew, I made friends with poetic minds. I started reading their works. I started relating them and understanding why they wrote what they wrote. I tried to make an effort myself to turn my day to day experiences into words. Prose at first, couplets then verses. I even got them proof read!!

As I got interested in poetry, I started understanding how a poet’s mind works. How much effort he puts in to get those emotions into words on paper. What a legacy he leaves us by turning his pain into poetry!! Poems that are read, recited and glorified.

One such poem that helped me in troubled times, gave me strength and continues to be my mantra.. INVICTUS by William Ernest Henley!!