Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night

By Dylan Thomas (1951)

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.

"Iron sharpens iron." There's a researched principle in life that people

remember peak and end experiences. In other words, losing two and 

winning two feels better than winning two and losing two. Even though

they are the same. 

Welsh poet Dylan Thomas speaks to resisting death and to matter

throughout your lives.

Coach Scott Celli asked you to look up at the volleyball banner during

tryouts. You know who feels sorry for MVB right now? Nobody. Athletes

have two choices under adversity, to redouble their focus, effort,  and

intensity or to lie down like dogs and take it. 

"Do not go gentle into that good night."

Lagniappe. "From up here the city had a certain sound that was identifiable as a train whistle. The low hiss of a million dreams in competition." - Michael Connelly in The Fifth Witness