http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2004/carl76.htm

Hello Doves,

This poem was published by the author's father after the young man's death in WWII. He was only 19 years old when he wrote this poem. As I understand it, he was a Christian. The words are beautiful and inspiring. My husband and I are both private pilots and I have often repeated this poem in my head while flying.

I do remember the TV sign-off where the jet fighter is flying while the poem is read. Many stations used to sign off a prayer then the National Anthem.

YSIC,

Loni
 
 
 

High Flight

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 untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
 

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941