High Flight (an Airman's Ecstasy)
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of
earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air
I've chased the shouting wind along and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
John Gillespie Magee
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It took me years to write, will you take a look
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Thistledown Press
I like Magee's lines.
ReplyDeleteWe all had to memorize this in school, and I can still say it "by heart" (an interesting expression). It used to appear as a sign-off at the end of the TV broadcasting day, with dramatic flight footage and cornball music and narration. I had forgotten all about it til I saw it on Mad Men and just howled.
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