Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Below is a poem by Dylan Thomas, a Welsh Poet. Its called... Do not go gentle into that good night. The essence of this poem is struggling to survive; pressing on to live as long as you can in the face of death, even if it means suffering. People who know me well and how I support euthanasia and the works of Dignitas may think its a strange choice of a poem but they are missing the point. Its not about the "finally suffering" of loved one as many of us unfortunately have experienced, I see it as not getting old gracefully, as I grow older I am getting conscious that there is so much I still need to do, places to see, things to learn....so much more. Pipe and slippers are long way off yet, we are only as old as be feel and at 45 I still have the passion of a teenager but now with the wisdom of age, although sometimes we need to tuck our "wariness" away and seek out adventure, create the memories we desire. I see this poem as a strong invocation for us to live boldly and to fight, we have one shot at this life so make it count....no regrets ... Non, je ne regrette rien as the song goes

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.