The following poem was translated by Aung San into Burmese and published in Oh Wai magazine with very famous consequences.
Source: “What is the meaning of the poem Invictus?” in Answers.Com
The poem was written while Henley was in the hospital being treated for tuberculosis of the bone, also known as Pott’s disease. He had had the disease since he was very young, and his foot had been amputated shortly before he wrote the poem.
This poem is about courage in the face of death, and holding on to one’s own dignity despite the indignities life places before us.