In Latin, Invictus can be translated to “undefeated” or “unconquerable.” “Invictus” is a poem by William Ernest Henley written while he was in the hospital being treated for tuberculosis in his bones, otherwise known as Pott’s disease. He’d had the disease since he was a child, and to save his life he had to have his leg amputated after which he wrote the poem. This defiant poem is built on an undercurrent of courage against all odds, and never letting an obstacle stop you from accomplishing your goals or telling you what can or cannot be done. When read it can be interpreted as arrogant or even self-absorbed. But when you look into his experiences with tuberculosis and his rough childhood you are reminded of his reasons to pen such a poem.
