Dylan Thomas has remained an inspiration to so many people. He’s the type of poet who every serious serious poet or reader of good poetry keeps hearing about till you eventually get to meet him. Truth is there are some controversies to him which I shall not bore you with at this moment. I think that sometimes we can judge the works different from the person. In this case, just for this time, I judge Dylan on the strength of his poem, ‘Do not go gentle into the good night’. This poem has pushed me on to do a lot more each day. I have had situations that looked bleak like the passage of loved ones. At other times it was old ones living their best to the last working their every breath. ‘Do not go gentle into the good night’ has left me thinking of these ones and thanking Aondo, the almighty for the gift of them and their every inspiration. Find here, the full version of the poem:
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 that 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.
– Dylan Thomas.
***
Whatever you do, give life your best and never never never do little when you can do more.
Do not go gentle into the good night.
Cheers.
***
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