This is one of my favorite poems. John Gillespie Magee, Jr was a son of
an American missionary. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at 19.
Soon after writing "High Flight", he was killed during the Battle of
Britian. According to Apollo 11's Mike Collins, " 'High Flight' is
without a doubt the best-known poem among aviators and can be found,
elegantly framed or carelessly tacked, on home and office walls around
most military airfields."
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
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 high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering there, 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 hights 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,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.