Question

Help with some poetry

Answer 1

This is the poem....

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 that 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.

Answer 2

Here's the question and my answer:

First Stanza:
What image in the words "burn and rave" suggest? Why should someone "burn and rave at the close of day"?

My answer: The image in the words "burn and rave" suggest that the person should fight tooth and nail. They should "burn and rave at close of day" because they should not sit back and let death take them.

Is that right?

Answer 3

rave/rāv/
Verb:
Talk wildly or incoherently, as if one were delirious or insane.

Answer 4

I think you've got it, but something else came to my mind. One dictionary defined rave as: to talk wildly, as in delirium. So, the first sentence says that the person should basically not have a gentle, or peaceful goodnight. I am thinking that "Old age should burn and rave at close of day" means that whoever the poem is speaking of may be depressed or dilusional. Maybe even grieving over someone or something that would cause him to not have a gentle goodnight. This stanza confirms my theory:
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.

Answer 5

Well, the writer of the poem is grieving over his father dying...but he's telling his father (and others) not to just let death overtake them but to die fighting.

Answer 6

Oh, I see. Well, you did good then. :)

Answer 7

Thanks! and thanks for the medal in the other question!

Answer 8

Welcome. :)