Do not go gentle into the night

Peter Heydon - We all aspire to write lyrical poetry but few mastered to ability to write with such musical fluidity as Thomas. This is a masterclass.

Number2pencil - I was happy hear this quoted in the Movie Interstellar. This just brilliant.

Redd Summertime - Dylan Thomas poem “Do not go gentle into that good night” is a powerful villanelle poem of defiance and resistance to death, of our mortality and struggles against death that makes it one of my very favorite poems I’ve ever read. The poet urges us in different ways to all kind of men to embody a common refusal to surrender!
What a message and what a celebration of life before facing the ultimate end. Stunning,
Redd Summertime

Ajketimofej - (Russian translation) The poem makes me feel creepy.
The beautiful sun that warms us with its rays is worthy of being praised.
To ask someone to curse you with their fierce eyes! Why such masochism?
What could be more beautiful than tenderness on a quiet night?
How different we all are, how different our goals are. (original) Жутко становится от стихотворения.
Прекрасное солнце согревающее нас своими лучами достойно, чтобы его воспевать.
Просить, чтобы кто-то проклял тебя своими лютыми глазами!, зачем такой мазохизм?
Что может быть прекраснее нежности в тихую ночь?
Какие мы все разные, какие у нас разные цели.

Daniel Ryan Cotler - "With its evocative imagery and heartfelt language, this poem offers a beautiful and poignant meditation on love."

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Comments from the archive

- From guest Mercedies Fishburn-Miller (contact)
i liked the poem it has meaning and i read it once yesterday for the first time and thought that is what it meant but of course my teacher says it would be hard to understand it but as soon as i saw the title i knew i should read it cuz i have been through the same thing so i knew it had to do with something important im happy that i got to read it and now i remember all the words to it

DreadPirateVampy - I see this not only as a rage against death, against blindness and against loss, but also against his father, who he perceives as giving up too easily. It isn't, to me, a matter of fearing one's own death, or even anything as simple as fearing the death of someone you love, but a vivid representation of the muddle of love, hate, sorrow, frustration and anger as somebody you care about slips away and you are left powerless.

Nisaba Loquatia - The dying of the light is a reference not only to blindness, but to the death of hope, and to the actual physical death, the permanent loss of consciousness of a dying individual. It is a multi-layered symbol. I caution against looking for single meanings for symbols in poetry, or guiding people towards single meanings - they miss out on so much more.

- From guest Len (contact)
It was also written when England was considering socialized medicine, thus anticipating 'death panels' or denial of services at a certain point; "I am sorry, there is nothing more we can do now" meaning no more money, but there were additional medical procedures available!

- From guest D. Jones (contact)
An interesting glimpse into the father-son relationship as time becomes their enemy.

- From guest Your Sister in Faith (contact)
I just lost my mom who inspired me to grow in a personal trusting relationship with God. During her last days, I could not understand why she was "afraid" to die since I have seen her trust in the Lord thru the most painful times with her children. It was not until I read this poem that I realized that she was "raging against the dying of the light". Hospice even remarked how strong and pain tolerant she was since she held onto life tooth and nail with every breath. Her rage against the dying of the light had a profound effect on all of her children. We will never look at life the same. I believe God answered my unspoken prayers thru a wise insightful man- Dylan Thomas. Thank you Dylan for your tribute to your father's life.

- From guest Dean (contact)
I have loved this poem since high school. I am 42 now and see the wold differently. I am no longer afraid to die, but fear for the deaths of the ones that I love. we all want our loved ones to rage against the dying of the light.

- From guest Mrs. J. (contact)
I agree with those who say this poem is more about living than dying. We are ALL dying, after all, and it is our duty to live fully, to bring our most potent selves to the table, to be grateful for every single day above ground and to see the good in "the light" which is Life. I loved this poem in highschool - it woke me up after a lethargic sleep during too many lame English teacher's classes - and I am interested to learn today that Thomas wrote it when his father was dying. Suddenly his pain at losing his father is evident and I bet he wanted to live "for" his father which many feel when losing a loved one. "Rage" could be considered a negative thing or a celebratory thing in this case. Angry that we will die. but celebrating that we ain't dead yet! LOVE THIS POEM!

- From guest radheyshyam (contact)
Amazing and braing-sensual. Of course, forelorn was this beauty of ubiquity when i could come to know of. thx and regards, radheyshyam.radheyshyam@gmail.com

- From guest Roland (contact)
I love this poem. It reminds me of my great-grandfather and his passing in 1986. Was great then as it is now.

- From guest Mike (contact)
Great poem. Its amazing how Thomas makes such a profound statement with only two rhymes, and its even more amazing that these every line in the poem ends with a word that rhymes with either "night" or "day."

- From guest Friedrich Buch (contact)
Do not go gentle into that Good Night. Until a short while ago an audio site was on Lycos.com. Can anyone out there help me?

- From guest Cynthia Bragg (contact)
Thanks so much for the poem and your wonderful sense of humor. My partners quote: Rage, Rage against the dying of the economy! I haven't bought much for you and I usually buy at the Marborough Gem and Mineral Show when I do. I have so much stock and not enough time to make new stuff and with the decrease in sales last year I'm working on using what I already have, yet when I do get ready to buy, I'm gonna have to get something from you because I'd hate to see you go out of the business. Thanks for the morning laugh about your friends register recession! Sincerely, C

- From guest Kev Morrison (contact)
Awe inspiring. The first three lines alone bring tears to my eyes. It sometimes seems that the only noble fight, the only just struggle, with no shades of grey, is that against death. Against ending. What could be more profound than conquering death? Of achieving immortality? The first "yes" in an endless procession of "no's". Rage, rage, against the dying.