I will go gentle I will not rage when life decides to turn the page a candle burns until it’s spent, then puddles away without dissent When my last act is that final breath that from these lips has gone and left this body, worn by time and age, will go gentle and will not rage when life decides to turn the page I leave behind such wisdom and truth as carried me here from first my youth I’m done with such notions that cannot be of any use in eternity As darkness follows light, as night follows day, I will go gentle I will not rage when life decides to turn the page Old men and wise, good men and wild, each may face the grave like a frightened child, but I will go gentle I will not rage when life decides to turn the page
May I keep my wits about me sufficiently that I might guide my wandering mind toward the exit door with such grace. To some degree, with each passing day, life becomes more about this goal than any other. I speculate on just which notions might be of use in eternity, but no sense getting riled up about that. Whatever notions are useful will likely make themselves known at that time. In the meantime, I stay busy, like the speaker suggests, trying to unburden the obviously un-useful notions, of which there are a whole passel. Thanks as always for your peaceful provocations, Paul.
I try to imagine of what use truth or wisdom might be in some changeless eternal state. I don’t see much use at all, but that’s just the ‘I’ of me that probably won’t exist in that wherever whenever.
I remember a previous piece of yours, Paul, that made a reference to your disinclination to fight it when it came time to unravel. I am with you in this thought, and I hope to have the courage to line up my canoe with the falls in such a way as to somehow pull it off.
My thoughts are sometimes drawn to the unforgettable image of the Vietnamese monk, Thich Quang Duc, who died of self immolation some 60 years ago, as I understand the story, in protest of the Vietnamese conflict. I am sure you recall the image.
Paul, this one speaks to my aging body and an attitude I never thought I would have toward the big question. How must I approach these next months and hopefully years. Ideally with grace and wisdom. You said it all💕
Many of us are getting closer and closer to that final breath and I don't want mine to be a scream. If we can find the grace and wisdom to accept an end that has always been there, it's as good an approach as any. Thank you!
Well, thank you, Paul. It's really about acceptance of the end (in whatever way that's meaningful for a reader) rather than fighting against what we've always known was going to happen.
I love listening to Thomas, the Welsh lilt that carries the words swirling through the air. When I was in a theater group in another life, we performed a reading of Under Milk Wood and we listened to an audio recording by Thomas to prepare. Wonderful experience.
I can only imagine that immersion in it. Did you know Richard Burton participated in one of the first theater productions of it?
I was introduced to Thomas by a very (and perpetually) hung-over English prof (Dr. King) who was my high school freshman lit teacher (and my next year’s). He assigned us this poem - had us read it aloud - and our homework was to write a page about it. I remember because the next morning in class Dr. King he’d told us that he had once gone drinking with Dylan’s Thomas (in London I think). “The honor of my life.”
It’s true! I almost saw him in Camelot in Broadway (school trip) in 1962 I think.. I remember his understudy was playing Arthur that day and we were SO disappointed! It was Richard Harris! (Who was young and wonderful)
I think he did! Though I was still disappointed. (Robert Goulet was in it too. - remember him?) When I think about it - given I was 12 - maybe my granddaughter’s love for the Arctic Monkeys is not so weird…. Hmmmm
This is the BEST! I am also there and welcome the unknown to be when it occurs. More people could become 'at peace' with the final acts. Thank you for this - it is wonderful!
Another heart-warming poem Paul. I feel is not a poem about death, but a poem that is a life lesson, a guide to living life calmly, well expressed in the words
I think age has a lot to do with it, Kimberley. Dylan Thomas was only 39 when he died. So, of course, he is going to rage against death with so much more to be done.The drink probably fuelled his rage as well. Great poet nevertheless.
I'm thinking about signing up for the Premium version of Wordpress to use their tools for increasing your followers with SEO skills, etc. Beautiful works like yours deserve the widest possible audience.
May I keep my wits about me sufficiently that I might guide my wandering mind toward the exit door with such grace. To some degree, with each passing day, life becomes more about this goal than any other. I speculate on just which notions might be of use in eternity, but no sense getting riled up about that. Whatever notions are useful will likely make themselves known at that time. In the meantime, I stay busy, like the speaker suggests, trying to unburden the obviously un-useful notions, of which there are a whole passel. Thanks as always for your peaceful provocations, Paul.
I try to imagine of what use truth or wisdom might be in some changeless eternal state. I don’t see much use at all, but that’s just the ‘I’ of me that probably won’t exist in that wherever whenever.
I meant to post this companion piece but got carried away with something else. This is called Dark Embrace: I know that death
dwells in a space
neither time
nor fortune can erase.
One day he will come
and I will not fight
that dark embrace
that whispers good night.
I remember a previous piece of yours, Paul, that made a reference to your disinclination to fight it when it came time to unravel. I am with you in this thought, and I hope to have the courage to line up my canoe with the falls in such a way as to somehow pull it off.
My thoughts are sometimes drawn to the unforgettable image of the Vietnamese monk, Thich Quang Duc, who died of self immolation some 60 years ago, as I understand the story, in protest of the Vietnamese conflict. I am sure you recall the image.
I do remember the Vietnamese monk. That’s faith and belief joined. The previous piece is the poem to which your original comment is attached
I agree, there's no need to rage against the dying of light. The final rest's darkness is quiet and beautiful.
I'm with you, Portia. If you want to be defiant, be defiant when it counts for something, not when it's time to leave.
Yeah, you tell'em, Paul!
With form and honed diction this poem captures the tone of Dylan Thomas with a message quite opposed. A lyrical, dense piece!
Thanks for the wonderful comment, Kim!
Paul, this one speaks to my aging body and an attitude I never thought I would have toward the big question. How must I approach these next months and hopefully years. Ideally with grace and wisdom. You said it all💕
Many of us are getting closer and closer to that final breath and I don't want mine to be a scream. If we can find the grace and wisdom to accept an end that has always been there, it's as good an approach as any. Thank you!
The poem has more meaning the older I get.
The Dylan Thomas poem?
No the one you wrote
Well, thank you, Paul. It's really about acceptance of the end (in whatever way that's meaningful for a reader) rather than fighting against what we've always known was going to happen.
And that’s liberating. “I will fight no more, forever.” Hinmaton-yalatkit — Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce
Thanks to @Mahdi Meshkatee for this restack.
Thank you for restacking this, @Jane Deegan
You’re welcome!
Thank you for restacking this, @Sarah Warden and for your brilliant and searing Three Days Before Christmas.
Your gentle voice and unhurried cadence as you read this provides the counterpart to Dylan’s poem that I memorized when I first read it. Perfect.
I love listening to Thomas, the Welsh lilt that carries the words swirling through the air. When I was in a theater group in another life, we performed a reading of Under Milk Wood and we listened to an audio recording by Thomas to prepare. Wonderful experience.
I can only imagine that immersion in it. Did you know Richard Burton participated in one of the first theater productions of it?
I was introduced to Thomas by a very (and perpetually) hung-over English prof (Dr. King) who was my high school freshman lit teacher (and my next year’s). He assigned us this poem - had us read it aloud - and our homework was to write a page about it. I remember because the next morning in class Dr. King he’d told us that he had once gone drinking with Dylan’s Thomas (in London I think). “The honor of my life.”
Smile at the prof’s brush with fame. Burton was Welsh and he had the voice and what a voice it was!
It’s true! I almost saw him in Camelot in Broadway (school trip) in 1962 I think.. I remember his understudy was playing Arthur that day and we were SO disappointed! It was Richard Harris! (Who was young and wonderful)
Didn’t Harris also star as Arthur in the movie version? He was riding high at that time, had a hit song with Jimmy Webb’s MacArthur Park.
I think he did! Though I was still disappointed. (Robert Goulet was in it too. - remember him?) When I think about it - given I was 12 - maybe my granddaughter’s love for the Arctic Monkeys is not so weird…. Hmmmm
I sang “ If Ever I Would Leave You” to my wife on her 50th birthday 2012 - big party, dinner/drinks for 50.
I remember Robert Goulet!
This is the BEST! I am also there and welcome the unknown to be when it occurs. More people could become 'at peace' with the final acts. Thank you for this - it is wonderful!
Thank you, Oma Rose!
Another heart-warming poem Paul. I feel is not a poem about death, but a poem that is a life lesson, a guide to living life calmly, well expressed in the words
"I will not rage
When life decides
To turn the page"
Thank you, Rolando
Thank you!!! I’ve always been uncomfortable with Dylan Thomas’ approach!
Thank you for reading and commenting, Kimberly. Thomas’s poem charts a different direction and that’s OK, but this is the path I would choose to take.
I think age has a lot to do with it, Kimberley. Dylan Thomas was only 39 when he died. So, of course, he is going to rage against death with so much more to be done.The drink probably fuelled his rage as well. Great poet nevertheless.
Absolutely a great poet!
Indeed! We each have our own walk toward the inevitable.
Death said Hegel
Relying on thousands of years of philosophy
While recognizing that modern freedom
Is quite new
Is freedom's final escape
Hegal had something to say about everything...and we're still listening.
He did!
Peaceful meditation
Thank you, rena!
Wonderfully expressive and poignant, skillfully written. I hope you like how I presented it in Crown Valley Quarterly:
https://liveyosemite.wordpress.com/2024/02/23/science-and-technology/
I’m speechless, Douglas. How special this is, how beyond the norm. I’m am honored to be included in this publication. Thank you 😊🙏
I'm thinking about signing up for the Premium version of Wordpress to use their tools for increasing your followers with SEO skills, etc. Beautiful works like yours deserve the widest possible audience.
Is the AI-generated photo ok?
The photo is fine. I’ve used AI-generated images in some of my work sometimes.
Beautiful, Paul
Thank you, Sarah—high praise, indeed!