And look what we have in the "office" now. TRAGIC!!
I can remember back when I was a teen/young man, and the old WTOP Channel 9 in Washington DC - in their VHF years - would play this every night at signoff, with a beautiful video montage running on the screen. Today it’s all but forgotten, and it would now be professional heresy to broadcast under almost any circumstances. How far we have fallen as a nation. And a nation of communities.
Beautiful poem, and a wonderful tribute to a real G man.
Dear Lord, rest his immortal soul, and the souls of all who have fallen for Liberty.
Tatt
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. Hov’ring 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 wind-swept heights with easy grace, Where never the lark, nor 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 (1922-1941) A Canadian Spitfire pilot inthe Battle of Britian
This poem was on the wall at BEALE AFB.
There was a later verse added in which God warns men of their arrogance. I can’t remember how it went.
Here is a web page of other versions.
http://www.omen.com/f/surly.html