Writer William Ernest Henley
a little known poet was he
'Invictus' * his claim to fame
inspiration** the name of the game(s)
A stoic due to illness & hospitalisation his poem *(s) & (life)became an inspirational name for the 'games' ,Mandela,RL Stevenson& Butterworth the composer..William's (born 1849 died 1903)Invictus' verse ,four abab quatrains, was written in 1875.
My dad wrote me letters on pink note paper when he was ill
A parent vulnerable for the first time, my empathy, nil
Later on I grew stronger, I offered my toy up
As a companion for dad in his hospitalisation, yup
I had learnt dad as God, dad as superman
A non-starter, never beat him in a race though, fan
Forever. Before that I'd joined Grandma's
Black hand gang, mint imperials magma.
She'd report us! Who to? Dad? he had
Called mum's mum mum, not a fad
or a phase he was going through, no
He loved his Mother- in- Law, as we all did, blow
To the opposition, challengers to the clan
Close knit we were, remain now, began.
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