This seems like an obvious choice for a death-related poem...
Do not go gentle into that good night Dylan Thomas, 1914 − 1953
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.
It’s still under copyright, but I don’t think that really matters...
I absolutely love the poem. Unfortunately every reading I’ve ever heard is painfully bad, so maybe it isn’t a great choice for a spoken piece. The exception is this scene from Interstellar: [Trigger warning? Or is it just me?]
This is definitely a contender. It’s currently unclear to me how universal it is. (It seems to be fairly popular in nontranshumanist circles, so I think works for Solstice but also doesn’t really feel like an appropriate thing for an actual funeral—not everyone is going to be in a mental state for this poem to be helpful)
Anecdotally, all of my matriarchal pre-funeralees have all indicated a strong dislike at both this poem’s mild sexism and its somewhat mournful, rather than explicitly celebratory, approach.
This seems like an obvious choice for a death-related poem...
It’s still under copyright, but I don’t think that really matters...
I absolutely love the poem. Unfortunately every reading I’ve ever heard is painfully bad, so maybe it isn’t a great choice for a spoken piece. The exception is this scene from Interstellar: [Trigger warning? Or is it just me?]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13pA3cPRYw4
This is definitely a contender. It’s currently unclear to me how universal it is. (It seems to be fairly popular in nontranshumanist circles, so I think works for Solstice but also doesn’t really feel like an appropriate thing for an actual funeral—not everyone is going to be in a mental state for this poem to be helpful)
Anecdotally, all of my matriarchal pre-funeralees have all indicated a strong dislike at both this poem’s mild sexism and its somewhat mournful, rather than explicitly celebratory, approach.
Copyright shouldn’t matter in these instances.