Oct 4, 2011

Poet's Nook: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas




Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage 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.


(This is a brilliant piece. In a nutshell, the poet is exhorting his dying father (& us) to passionately embrace life even if death is imminent. Don't die easily, don't give up too soon, and up to the last few seconds before being extinguished, stare into the abyss and put up a good fight! Beautiful!)


OneLove


:::MME:::

The War You Don't See

  Get the book here Excellent interview with Chris Hedges: