Who is the Captain?

William Earnest Henley

"Invictus" 

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 nor cried aloud,

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, 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.

Orson F. Whitney

"The Soul's Captain" 

Art thou in truth?

Then what of him who bought thee with his blood?

Who plunged into devouring seas

And snatched thee from the flood 

Who bore for all our fallen race

What none but him could bear--

The God who died that man might live

And endless glory share. 

Of what avail thy vaunted strength

Apart from his vast might?

Pray that his light may pierce the gloom

That thou mayest see aright. 

Men are as bubbles on the wave,

As leaves upon the tree,

Thou, captain of thy soul! Forsooth,

Who gave that place to thee? 

Free will is thine--free agency,

To wield for right or wrong;

But thou must answer unto him

To whom all souls belong. 

Bend to the dust that “head unbowed”,

Small part of life’s great whole,

And see in him and him alone,

The captain of thy soul.

(see also here)