eNOTHING Audio Series -- Dylan Thomas Reading "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"/And an Anthony Hopkins rendition

Note:

Listen to BOTH readings below -- one by Dylan Thomas and the other a classic beautiful rendition by actor Anthony Hopkins.

Dylan Thomas is a poetic legend, and several of his classic poems have made either our "Poem of the Day" or "Top 100 or So..." series of articles and tweet broadcasts.  Some of his classic works include "And Death Shall Have No Dominion", "Under Milk Wood", and "Fern Hill" as well has his well known ode to his fathers passing "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night", which is featured here.

One of the goals of our "Audio Series" of articles is to bring you a dose of "reality" with regards to the classic poetry of modern times -- allowing you to listen to the living voice of each of these important literary icons.  On that basis alone Dylan Thomas needs to be represented.  Dylan Thomas legendary wild nights of alcoholism in and around London and New York's Greenwich Village (the Chelsea Hotel of course) and his theatrical and speaking career and reading tours stand for themselves, and so here is the best recording I could find of his classic poem.

You will notice some interesting comments by readers below the YouTube video.  Although I am a staunch defender of poetry, I tend to agree with his opinion about pompousness.  Interesting and important note, here:

One of the reasons for the existence of these pages, is our goal to help bring poetry and poets into the streets, easy for people to understand and easy to grasp why there is/was a pop culture surrounding poetry.  We want to erase or reduce the stigma of "pompousness" and grandiose language and ego which follows poetry in the eyes of the masses...and it's true, that some poets (Dylan Thomas, here) when they read their poems, read for the READING and not to convey the original intent and emotion.

So following the Thomas reading, I've included an absolutely wonderful reading of the same poem by none other than Anthony Hopkins...which probably captures the moments of emotion as Thomas sat down to write the poem, in tears.

Enjoy both!

Top 100 or so Poems -- "Do not go gentle into that good night" - by Dylan Thomas

Continuing with our 100 Best series, it would be impossible to leave out the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. His unusual style and carefully executed play with words is credited with influencing a wide range of great American poets and artists/musicians including the Beats, Bob Dylan (Zimmerman's last name was in fact changed to Dylan in honor of the poet), and Paul McCartney and John Lennon, to name just a few.

A drunken carouser and womanizer, as well as an early "performance poet" -- these images have cemented a rather romantic image into peoples minds - and in fact served to be a major part of his legacy of influence.

Thomas in fact died in New York as part of the burgeoning art scene in New York City - he was staying at the famous Chelsea Hotel at the time of his untimely death - and was known to hang out with the local poets of the time in the early 50's.

This poem is perhaps his most famous, and was written for/to his dying father in 1952, and was in fact one of his last poems. Enjoy this one, it deserves it's place on the list.

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.

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