Distill that Poem – Carpe Diem Haiku Kai – June 10, 2014

Do not go gentle into that good night (Villanelle)

Dylan Thomas, 1914 – 1953

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.

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This is a beautiful albeit bitter villanelle, Dylan Thomas here rebels against that time in life when men renounce their vitality and await inevitable death:

Do not go gentle into that good night (Senryu)

rebel this tired fate!
make your eyes ablaze with youth …
even though night falls.

aged wisdom yours,
bitter with expierience,
tired – you greet death.

sing once more then dance!
your life is not forfeit yet …
live until the last.

no, not docile father,
as a sheep goes to slaughter,
curse with fierce tears – night

(c) G.s.k.

Carpe Diem’s Distillation – Dylan Thomas