This post is in honor of dads who live with chronic illness…
- dads who balance home, work, parenting, and caring for an ill spouse and/or child and…
- dads who are ill and parent with all they’ve got in spite of it.
Below is the poem “Invictus”, written by William Ernest Henley who himself was ill with a painful bone disease. This poem reminds me of these brave and dedicated dads who in the face of oh so challenging circumstances, put their hearts into parenting.
INVICTUS
by, William Ernest Henley
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 or cried aloud,
Under the bludgeoning of chance
my head is bloodied 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 straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
(A note–Most likely due to the hundred or so age difference between Mr. Henley and me, I am less stoic and believe unconquerable souls sometimes wince, feel fear and shed some tears.)
*Thinking of all you who take the time to visit here, to read, to share. I hope you are feeling as well as can be, and if that is not so well, that you feel at peace being in that difficult place. This is always the challenge for me and one I’m facing today, If you are laying in bed right now with tough symptoms, feeling “lazy” perhaps as I am feeling, because you’re able to do nothing but watch mindless TV or stare at the back of your eyelids, let’s remember that “being” here…that not giving up in the face of daily illness and pain, takes an “unconquerable soul”, and do our best to celebrate (not judge) our own.
Back to “The Housewives of New York City”–yes, my mindless tv shows are that mindless…providing quite the cognitive rest!
To my friend’s unconquerable soul,
You may be struggling, to keep yourself above water, to rest peacefully within your difficult place.
You have another side…..
Think instead of the peace, the calm, the strong arm of understanding and empathy that you bring to those outside of your four walls.
We, the unconquerable souls here, needing support – have found it…..
in yours!
You are more intuitive than you will ever know. I for one thank you with all my heart, for all that you do, the love that is so natural to you, is so welcomed by others.
Thankyou Kerry,
Zar
xxx
Thank you for honoring these wonderful men in our lives. My husband was gone for five days, and I couldn’t believe the difference it made having him gone. I’m so happy he’s back. He certainly deserves such high praise.
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Amen.
Thanks Kerry that’s really inspiring…and yes I’m laying in bed, but not giving up either
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I’m afraid to say my hubby is more of an ‘impenetrable soul’!
Z
Joel and I just watched the movie Invictus last night. It was really good and of course that poem was in the movie….when I get something twice in a short period of time I pay attention…so I am. I agree with you Kerry about the unconquerable soul still being able to cry, wince, and feel fear. The soul remains unconquerable because is moves through the fear, copes with the pain, and bravely cries when necesary……
Hope and pray your energy returns quickly.. I am amazed at the money and lifestyles of the housewives of NYC, Orange county, etc. etc. I watch them sometimes when I need mindless TV too!
Hugs
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I am always touched when someone thinks about caregivers. Thank you!
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