Do not go Gentle into that Good Night Poem - Dylan Thomas
About The Author
DYLAN THOMAS ( 1914-1953 ) was noticed , when still quite young , for his dense , brilliant and difficult poetry . His contribution to English poetry is to be found in his experiments with language enabling him to remake and revise the language to suit his vision . Strange and anomalous grammatical constructions such as ' a grief ago ' , ' once below a time ' and all the sun long ' have now become lasting examples of how familiar words placed in a strange image combination can invigorate language . Thomas ' early verse was predominated by sexual imagery while his later verse expresses a deep religious faith .. '
Do not go Gentle into That Good Night ' first published in November 1951 , is written in the form of a villanelle . It is a very personal poem written for Thomas ' father , who died on 15 December 1952. Full of contradictions , paradoxes and juxtapositions , the poem is at once a defiance of death and an acceptance of it . Thomas appeals to his father , not to give in but to struggle against the impending death and obliteration , though at the same time he admits the inevitability of death . Thomas had great respect for his father - for his strength of character and independence of judgment , qualities which suffered because of his illness . The central rhyming words , light / right , juxtapose life and death . The father faced night and darkness doubly - the darkness of blindness and of death . Different people approach death differently and the poem is written in praise of life and acceptance of death . The acceptance suggested is not that of a stoic but one of a warrior struggling to save life unto the last . The poem ends on an ironical note with Thomas exhorting his father to both bless and curse him.
Do not go Gentle into that Good Night Poem
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 is 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.