Ted Seastrom

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 wind-swept heights

With easy grace where never lark

Or ever 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.

"High Flight"

by John Gillespie Magee

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Image license: iStock