Oh, I have slipped the
surly bonds of earth(1),
And danced(2) the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed(3) and joined the tumbling mirth(4)
Of sun-split clouds(5) and done a hundred things (6)
You have not dreamed of --
Wheeled and soared and swung(7)
High in the sunlit silence(8).
Hovering there(9)
I've chased the shouting wind(10) along and flung(11)
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up along delirious(12), burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights(13) with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle(14) flew;
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space(15),
Put out my hand(16), and touched the face of God.
from John Gillespie Magee Jr., "High Flight"