Facing Mortality

We have discussed mortality since man took his first step into our own human existence and attempted to understand what that means to us.  Life is followed by Death and that process which is ever present in our humanity can not be ignored yet I know of few who welcome it.  As I age and I witness the passing of friends who have been a real presence in my life, I do not regret their passing as much as I will feel the loss of the light they had brought into our world and my life.  Dylan Thomas’ writing has been challenging for many of us yet as he does in this poem whose challenge between the light and the dark continues.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

By 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.