This week’s poem is by one of my favorite poets, Dylan Thomas. The recent movie “Interstellar” used this poem several times. It is an affirmation of living life to the last breath, of not not giving one’s self up to grief after the loss of a loved one. It is a great message to all of us who have experienced a loss that left us inconsolable.
Thomas was not only a great poet, but a great reader of his work, and many of his recitations have been recorded. If you want to hear him read this work, watch the Youtube at the bottom of this page. LL
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.
Dylan Thomas
To hear Dylan Thomas recite this poem, click the arrow in the window below: