High Flight
By John Gillespie Magee (1922-1941)
J/5823 RCAF
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 sun-lit silence. Hovering 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.
Although John Gillespie Magee was not a Bomber pilot, we felt that his words were true to all those in the air-force; and that is the reason that we have included his poem here.
John Gillespie Magee died on Thursday, 11 December 1941 in active service. He was 19. The poem that you have just read found particular fame when the then President of the USA, Ronald Reagan, used lines from the poem as part of his address to the American people after the 'Challenger' space-ship blew up, killing seven of the crew.
If this poem infringes any copyright laws, I would be grateful if you could let me know. Any infringement is purely unintentional.