Dylan Thomas reciting his villanelle '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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_Thomas

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Dylan Thomas
• English Literature
• Poetry

[ApocalypsePlough]

One of my favourite poems.

[MrTJW65]

Mellifluous words... such musical genius that plays upon the ears... Tom Wyre

[ilovefashionyesido]

he sounds like hes singing =D

[onlinelondon]

@imacooldude506 I agree, but maybe he was so devoted and dedicated follower of DT, that he thought he would do him some good by re-painting it.......police certainly knew the guy, being such a small village!!

[imacooldude506]

@onlinelondon I see. Well the idea of the police seeing someone stealing the cross from this poets grave and letting him go just because he said he was fixing it up is utterly preposterous.

[lesleypaul59]

...i can not get too much of old-school-tunes ! this is one of the best ! 'first heard on a german tv-show last year ! 'can't get this sound out of my head ! thanks a lot for sharing ! LES

[onlinelondon]

@imacooldude506 Well, that was the story told me, a dedicated admirer wanted to restore his idol's cross - I don't; - so they said......

ed

[imacooldude506]

@onlinelondon No, that would never happen.

[onlinelondon]

I met a police officer in Laugharne, and he told me this; a local person was seen carrying a cross late at night, so police stopped him to have a closer look at it; and it was the cross of Dylan Thomas grave, and he wanted to take it hope to repaint it, because it was so impaired and faded; - police did let him carry on....crazy!!

[sotweeddude]

@MushroomKingdom919 I agree with your reading.