Brave Men (A Salute to Dylan Thomas)

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 grieve 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.

 

 

 Brave Men (A Salute to Dylan Thomas)

By Frederick J. Blahnik

 

Brave men fear nothing

Not even the end, as it unsecretively approaches

For they have fought epic battles and vanquished countless indomitable foes

Death is just another gladiator, just another spear bearer to confront in that ring of no return

Though, they implicitly understand, an enemy that cannot be bested irrespective of one’s past valor…..

 

So they face this grim adversary with a bounce in their step and a smile on their face

Fully knowing this battle will be their last

Doesn’t matter; their attitude remains the same throughout

Fight like the devil, and offer no quarter or compassion to your foe

And, at the end of the day, may the best man win…..

 

Dylan Thomas ranted on about raging against the dying of the light

But exactly what purpose does this serve?

The dying of the light will happen regardless of one’s rage or passive acceptance of said

To rage uncontrollably is to needlessly sacrifice those delicate servants that attend rationality

Brave men do not rage; they carefully consider their options and respond accordingly…..

 

Rage, rage against the dying light

Sounds good, but what of substance does this accomplish?

Brave men choose their battles wisely, drawing sabers only when they sense a chance for victory

The dying of the light is no such creature; it is as inevitable as tomorrow’s sunrise

Brave men recognize this truth and submit gracefully, albeit grudgingly, to cryptic forces greater than flesh and mortality.

 

Rage, rage against the dying light

Rage, rage against the dying light

Rage, rage against the dying light

But since when has rage added anything other than rancor to a frothing situation?

Brave men know this; ignorant men do not.