Live Readings

By Dylan Thomas

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.

My Analysis:
I remember this poem well as I had to write an essay about it years ago for an art of poetry course.

While Dylan Thomas has written a number of extraordinarily beautiful and lyrical poems, this is probably his best known. He approaches the subject of death and living life with such breathtaking intensity and freshness as he addresses his reader as well as his father.

The rhetoric and metaphors are clear and profoundly moving; the images he conveys are thought provoking; the language is simple but potent. The form of this poem is called “Villanelle”. The metre and complicated rhyme scheme simply adds to the brilliance of the poem.

Mobile post sent by Ray using Utterz. Replies. mp3