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 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,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
--John Gillespie Magee, Jr. (1922-1941)
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
Luis...I have bookmarked a thread from some time ago by you with this same name. It just reminded me of that great post.
I liked it when Reagan spoke lines from that poem at the Challenger memorial. It was very moving.
Btw, President Reagan was indirectly responsible for the 'discovery' of Marilyn Monroe. During his stint in the Army he sent Army photographer David Conover out to shoot morale boosting photos of women working at Lockheed for the war effort. As fate would have it, Norma Jeane was 'discovered' by Conover that day.
I also got a kick out of the way Bette Davis always referred to him as 'little Ronnie Reagan'. They made the film 'Dark Victory' together and were not fond of each other. Bette was a liberal but shortly before her death in 1989 she made the following comment: "He was not a very talented actor, but he gave a very good job as president. He made us all very patriotic. I miss him." This was one of Hollywood's greatest speaking, not some trash like Danny Glover. The stars of yesteryear were definitely a class above the trash we are stuck with now.