Christus Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank, in Him, Jesus Christ,
For my redeemed and purchased soul.In the fell-hard clutch of circumstance
I have sore-winced and cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of flagrance
My head is bloody and low-bowed.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:
He is the captain of my soul.
Co-opted Invictus, mjg/10
I have written a something of an explanation of this poem, here: Christus Invictus: Behind the Verse
I wrote a poem in response to this too. Check this out:
All hail the God of glory,
who cleanses filthy souls.
From Hell’s claim they are set free
by Christ inconquerable!
In clutch of men evil within,
He did not flinch when struck down.
Through the cross He conquered sin!
His head was bloodied for His Crown.
Because He withstood wrath and tears,
and removed the horror of the shade,
a soul can face the marching years
open-eyed and unafraid.
Although my listed crimes were grave,
my emperor has burnt the scroll.
I’d rather be Christ’s galley slave,
than captain of a sinking soul.
Very well written! I really like your last two lines:
I’d rather be Christ’s galley slave,
than captain of a sinking soul.
Keep it up!
There is a poem that I cannot find on the internet, but it is also an answer to Invictus. I found it in a book American Poetry (I think that was the name). Sorry to say, you’re not the first one to come up with the idea although yours in notably different than the one I refer to. I’ll find the book if I can.
Thanks for the comment! Are you thinking of Conquered by Dorothy Day? –> http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/invictus-redeemed
If you’re interested, I’ve written a ‘behind the scenes’ look at Christus Invictus here –> http://selah.ca/christus-invictus-behind-the-verse/
Disappointed with that second last line – I am the master of my fate. What about Romans 8:28?
One of my favourite verses, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” I’m confused as to how you’re relating it, though?
I do have more of an explanation, though, over at Christus Invictus: Behind the Verse where I talk about the choices made in the poem and that line specifically and why I wrote it that way.
Thanks for commenting!
Invictus by Reese is also good.
Awesome poetry here Matts
Thats pretty good, you wrote that whole thing?
hah, thanks but no it’s a variation of Invictus which was apparently from an atheist on his deathbed.