%
% A rejoinder to Sagar
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% Reuben Thomas
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% Typeset 2nd January 2011
% Replaced my précis with the full version at the request of the author, 24th February 2011
%


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\begin{document}
\newcommand{\emphquote}[1]{\tab\emph{#1}}
% Nesting \emph makes next line give an error
\emph{(The original poem:} \href{http://www.dorothyprizes.org/2009awards.htm#usagar}{Do not go down to the woods today} \emph{by Ursula Sagar.)}

\begin{poem}
\title{A rejoinder to Sagar}
\stanza*
\emphquote{Do not go down to the woods today,}\\
\emphquote{Although they’re lovely, dark and deep.}\\
\emphquote{You know exactly what lies that way}\\
\emphquote{And you have promises to keep}\\
\emphquote{And other, safer games to play}\\
\emphquote{And other arms to charm your sleep.}\\

\stanza*
\emphquote{Do not jump into the rabbit hole}\\
\emphquote{Or wander through the wardrobe door.}\\
\emphquote{You’re far too old for the title role}\\
\emphquote{And anyway, the plot’s a bore:}\\
\emphquote{The queen of hearts is off her head,}\\
\emphquote{The dormouse just goes back to bed,}\\
\emphquote{The lion reigns – the witch is dead,}\\
\emphquote{The children sleep at home once more}\\
\emphquote{And all is as it was before.}\\

\stanza*
\emphquote{Do not go gentle into that}\\
\emphquote{good night; don’t follow the moonlit stream,}\\
\emphquote{For when the day comes, harsh and bright,}\\
\emphquote{The potion’s spent – it’s not a dream.}\\
\emphquote{Then every elf and fairy sprite}\\
\emphquote{And every flower of delight}\\
\emphquote{Will fade like fireflies out of sight.}\\
\emphquote{Don’t rage against that dying light;}\\
\emphquote{You’ll know at once what’s wrong, what’s right,}\\
\emphquote{In morning’s fiercer, braver beam.}\\
% My précis, replaced by the full version at the request of the author
% \emphquote{Do not go down to the woods today:}\\
% \emphquote{You know exactly what lies that way,}\\
% \emphquote{And you have promises to keep,}\\
% \emphquote{And other, safer games to play,}\\
% \emphquote{And other arms to charm your sleep;}\\
% \emphquote{You’re far too old for the title role,}\\
% \emphquote{And anyway, the plot’s a bore,}\\
% \emphquote{And all is as it was before.}\\
% \emphquote{You’ll know at once what’s wrong, what’s right}\\
% \emphquote{In morning’s fiercer, braver light.}\\
\stanza*
I shall go down to the woods today; \\
Trees grow, seasons run, changing the way, \\
And I have promises to keep: \\
As, when I took the title role, \\
Not to forsake the forest games, \\
Not to forget the faery dreams, \\
And anyway, I write the plot, \\
And all is mine to change, or not. \\
To struggle with what’s wrong, what’s right \\
Truth’s found as much in dark as light. \\

\author{Reuben Thomas}
\poemdate{2nd January 2011}
\end{poem}
\begin{notes}
  I came across this poem set to music; its sentiment annoyed me (and the errors didn’t help: line 6 of stanza 2 is a redundant second reference to \emph{Alice}, while the direct citation of “Do not go gentle into that good night” in stanza 3 contradicts the central idea, even if the negation of the original sense is restored (to “rage against the dying light” is quite different from “rage against the dying of the light”)).
\end{notes}
\end{document}
