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.
Do not clothe gentiles in hats of white
by Lady Hamsnot[1]
Do not clothe gentiles in hats of white
Or sage. Should stern men slave at clothes so gay?
Beige, beige portends the dying of delight.
Three Wise Men, whose attire sends no sparks at night
Because their cords had sporked no icing, pray:
“Do not clothe gentiles in hats of white!”
Godly men, in elastic stays, by dyeing shawls bright
With their wails plead, “Smite the damned in a green beret—
Beige, Beige portends the dying of delight.”
Styled men who sought to feign their fashion fright
And burned too late their briefs of tawny gray
Do not clothe gentiles in hats of white.
Beige men’s queer depth, Jews see with blinding sight—
Blonde dyes could’ve blazed their meaty drawers—and inveigh:
Beige, beige portends the dying of delight.
And Jews try harder to wear only hats despite
Coarse dress, flee now with their fierce teals and say,
Do not clothe gentiles in hats of white,
Beige, beige portends the dying of delight.
[1] Lady Hamsnot’s estate has asked that the pronunciation of her name be made clear. She always insisted on “hamz-not,” in order to emphasize her Jewish blood on her father’s brother’s wife’s side.
