This well-known poem by Dylan Thomas is thought to have been written in response to his own father’s passing. Although Dylan Thomas had a tumultuous life, in this poem the opening is an impassioned plea with rich imagery imploring us to use every available precious resource before it’s too late.  It calls to our soul or inner man to WAKE UP AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL !

This poem captures well the words of Jesus Christ, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but, I have come to give you life to the full.” How does anyone receive this, “life to the full”?  By prayer? A lifelong journey? Or is it by faith with a combination of prayer over a lifetime?

From the writer, Dylan Thomas’ point of view, how does a person humanly begin with the end after they have already been born? Engineers are known to work a project in reverse, that is to begin with the end result in mind and then figure how to obtain that result. Perhaps our own beginning is a simple decision not to waste a moment that has providentially been given us. Oh, for God to grant me strength to overcome the obstacles that waste time.

I’m guessing that is why the author uses the word “rage”.  To rage against whatever is the difficulty or conflict to overcome.  To seek insight revealing the small and great things that separate us from both a Divine purpose and our loved ones requires such an expression of passion. Obstacles in whatever form may wear a person’s resolve down even by the mere passage of time. Then the word rage is proper because there isn’t a moment to waste. Whatever our failings or problems that present the fight in our lives, you have what it takes to prevail to stand against the dark thief who wants to steal our love, kills even our dreams and attempts to destroy anything good in our lives, especially relationships. So as necessary, passionately rage against whatever is coming against you. Yes, bring the light of truth into the circumstance for yourself and for your loved ones to oppose the theft of anything good, anything true or that you love. As Nike says, “Do It” now while you have breath in your lungs and use it to the full.

From The Guys At Wildmen

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.