Sunday, August 10, 2008

Do not go gentle into that good night

I accidentally found a blog written by Andy Berkbigler and there was a poem referenced in his blog. If I remember it correctly, I read the same poem during my college years. Even then, it had touched some part deep inside me. I researched through the web wiki and know that it is actually written by a Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) to convince his father to fight against imminent death.

Do not go gentle into that good night

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.


By Dylan Thomas