An Audio Guide to Poetry Recitation - 12. "Do Not Go Gentle into

An Audio Guide to Poetry Recitation - 12. "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night"


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The Welsh poet Dylon Thomas often performed his poems in an earry rhythmic voice, much different from this dark and persuassive version of Do Not Go Gentle by actor Alfred Molina.  This poem is written in a french form called villanelle, in which two lines are repeated as refrains. Thomas wrote the poem for his father who was going blind in old age.

Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
[Read by Alfred Molina]

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.