High Flight

[Deans BMW]

Something about this, always brings tears.


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

[JCsman]

Good one, Dean.

Years ago one of the Kansas City television stations ended each broadcast day with a video of jets and a baritone voice reading that.

I never turned the set off until it ended.

[DarthRider]

Good one, Dean.

Years ago one of the Kansas City television stations ended each broadcast day with a video of jets and a baritone voice reading that.

I never turned the set off until it ended.

Same here in Armadillo, back in the day.
I had a copy of "High Flight" on my wall, all through my skydiving days. I still have it, somewhere.
I never felt closer to God than when I left the aircraft and knew I would be meeting Him in a few seconds...or much, much later.