In Memoriam
 

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

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Our Ottawa newspaper published this today. It seems so appropriate. Magee was an American who fought in the Canadian Air Force in early WWII. Now we have different heroes.

oh ruth.. i had to stop reading it, there were tears in my eyes. i'm so upset about this i can't even talk about it!

my mother's first cousin headed the telemetry unit in houston for the moon landing in the late 60s. this is just too close to home..

I really meant to lock the thread. No comments are required. I just felt the poem felt close to home and had to post it.