High Flight (A Poem for Pilots and Skydivers)
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
High Flight
By Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee 1922-1941, Royal Canadian Air Force
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 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.
By Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee 1922-1941, Royal Canadian Air Force
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 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.
