a poem a day, more or less
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.
– William E. Henley
The Gladdest Thing is meant to be a repository of good poems. You can read them here, or subscribe to have them emailed to you as new poems are posted. The site is maintained by Michelle McGinnis.
"The Gladdest Thing" is a phrase from Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Afternoon on a Hill".
Sherry Thomas
November 25th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Isn’t this Timothy McVeigh’s favorite poem?
Charles Powell
December 20th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
This Was the poem that Timothy McVeigh gave to the warden as he was being led to the death chamber. I think it sums up the attitude of the “My way ” theology. Dorthea Day penned a response from the Christian viewpoint. It follows.
Out of the light 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.