Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night -- Thomas


Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Written for the Dylan Thomas' dying father. Really sad on the whole. I was reminded of it recently when I read a piece in which it was misquoted: 'Rage against the dying of the day.' Also worth looking up is Under Milk Wood, a radio play written by Thomas which can be heard here. It's pretty good.

1 comment:

BikeLane said...

I'm embarrassed to admit that I know no Dylan Thomas. (I know _of_ him, but never read his work.) Having lost my parents recently, and finding myself now suffering the angst of middle age, this poem really strikes deep.

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