Sunday, May 28, 2006

Memorial Day

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 unsurpassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
~ Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee


In honor of my father, an Air Force pilot, who served our country for 33 years.
August 3, 1917 - April 3, 2001
And, a salute to all service men and women who have served or are serving our country. Thank you for giving of yourselves to our country.

8 comments:

HeyJules said...

Amen!

Dave. said...

Amen!

Bob and Claire said...

Mmm, my favorite poem.

Unknown said...

Ditto Claire. I remember once in a while, I would be allowed to stay up late and this poem would come on with pictures of our Armed forces..mostly Air Force as the station signed off the air for the night.
Pam

Refreshment in Refuge said...

And again... Amen.

Carol said...

This was the only poem my dad ever committed to memory. Thank you for posting it, Claire!

Anonymous said...

Happy Memorial Day!

G~ said...

another Amen! and hugs --(((((Claire)))))