| INVICTUS - 1875 William Ernest Henley (Humanist) | MY CAPTAIN - 1900 Dorothea Day (Christian) |
| 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. | Out of the night that dazzles me, Bright as the sun from pole to pole, I thank the God I know to be For Christ the conqueror of my soul. Since His the sway of circumstance, I would not wince nor cry aloud. Under that rule which men call chance My head with joy is humbly bowed. Beyond this place of sin and tears That life with Him! And His the aid, Despite the menace of the years, Keeps, and shall keep me, unafraid. I have no fear, though strait the gate, He cleared from punishment the scroll. Christ is the Master of my fate, Christ is the Captain of my soul. |
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2 comments:
Hi Brian,
Such a drastic comparison! Wow! I noticed that Dorothea Day capitalizes God's names and His personal pronouns and how William Henley has capitols on words like pit and horror. Those things really jump out at me.
Blessings,
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Great point Child of God. Poetic language is symbolic, just as Parables have earthly stories of heavenly meanings using comparison, illustration, and an analogy. Due to the use of specific words and the absence of others, the original poem shouted "humanism", though Bible terms were employed, which generated the Christian counter poem by Day. The foggy attempt was clarified with the distinct. Good catch! Thanks for commenting.
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