Famous Death Poem

This very famous poem, a villanelle, by Dylan Thomas was written as Thomas' father lay on his deathbed. The message that Thomas was conveying to his father was his passionate desire that his father not take death "lying down." He is expressing the feeling that so many have felt as they watched a close friend, parent, or lover slip away. The message to his father is, "Don't Go! Fight! Death is an injustice! Show your passion for life, by not going gentle into that "good" night."

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I like this poem. It reflects the general reaction of the majority of people not wanting their loved ones to go and if so at least they put up a fight, along with being poetically exquisite...

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Famous Poem

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Dylan Thomas By more Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage 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.

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  • Virginia N. Pritts by Virginia N. Pritts
  • 3 years ago

I like this poem. It reflects the general reaction of the majority of people not wanting their loved ones to go and if so at least they put up a fight, along with being poetically exquisite and personal. Unfortunately, I have experienced eleven deaths and physically there for the last breath for five people whom were deeply adored. Whom I did not want to fight but did want them to go gently into that good night without rage. Whatever the ways they left, quietly, moaning in pain, fighting to breathe, one thing for sure it was personal, of course, their way to go despite my wants.

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A wonderful legendary poem Dylan Thomas wrote...

"You would wish someone fight with all their might
And not slip gentle into that good night
But then who’re we to expect that they do
When heaven’s gates wait for them to walk through."

Beryl Edmonds

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  • Donald M. Onchwari by Donald M. Onchwari
  • 8 years ago

This is indeed a great poem and very touching. I love it!

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  • Benjamin M. Key by Benjamin M. Key
  • 8 years ago

This is a great poem. Poets like Dylan Thomas are who inspired me to write my poetry on one main subject, life. There are so many trials and tribulations that we go through in life that make us stronger. With my poetry I hope to touch souls and help them through times that I may have gone through and wrote about. Life is a journey and sometimes you need a guide to get you to the next rest stop.

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Dylan Thomas was certainly a gifted poet and this is one of my favorites.

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