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Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas

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.

Thomas explains how every man, the wise, the good, the wild, and the grave, all have one thing in common. When they know that death is near, they look it in the face and keep on living. The author explains how there have always been great people no matter what their greatness is for and that they live fully. To be afraid of death would be absurd and to stop living before death has actually taken hold would not be living. Thomas believes that one should not be "gentle" in life, but rather should "rage". Life is not meant to be lived passively, one must take action into one's own hands if they are to truly appreciate all that life has to offer.