This seems appropriate:
High Flight
John Gillespie Magee, Jr
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 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.
Very appropriate - always loved that piece.
highflight to ExTexasRedhead; Kathy in Alaska; SkyPilot; ConorMacNessa; vette6387; mazda77; oswegodeee; ...
Just found your post and the beautiful poem which had inspired my first FR account name. I stopped using it in deference to those it honors.
Kindest regards.
(sodpoodle)
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth1, And danced2 the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed3 and joined the tumbling mirth4 Of sun-split clouds5, and done a hundred things6 You have not dreamed of Wheeled and soared and swung7 High in the sunlit silence8. Hov'ring there9, I've chased the shouting wind10 along, and flung11 My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious12 burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights13 with easy grace, Where never lark, or ever eagle14 flew And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space15; Put out my hand16, and touched the face of God.
NOTES:
I remember when TV stations would sign off for the night with “High Flight” (followed by the anthem).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoL-KCFbIpA
Very nice!!
RIP John Glenn.
Great poem! Perfectly describes man finally achieving what birds have long done.
“High Flight
John Gillespie Magee, Jr
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward Ive 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. Hovring there
Ive chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
Ive topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew
And, while with silent lifting mind Ive trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
_____________________________________________________
Beautiful poem. Our beloved past President Reagan quoted it.