Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas as always been one of my favorite poets. 


When I first was old enough to understand death as a part of existence, not long after I found his poem.. 


He wrote it for his dying father but I have always seen it as a 'call to action" to any one who has a loved one in peril. 


To me it offers hope, encouragement, and inspiration and allows me (while recognizing as a good friend of mine always reminds me,"none of us get out of here alive"), there is no glory or honor nor purpose in having one lay down and resign oneself to the end, regardless of how inevitable those around you say may be the case. 


God still does show us miracles and "hope" is still and will always be stronger than despair.


Today, I needed to remind myself that fighting against sometimes seemingly overwhelming odds can lead to that miraculous victory, that exception to the rule, that atypical response. Conversely, not fighting with everything one has surely leads to defeat and loss. 


So here is in my opinion Dylan Thomas' gift to us all. 


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 grieve 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.