And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
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 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.
One of our local TV stations (WBZ?) used to open the Brodcast day with the national Anthem, Morning prayer, and High Flight (With the F-104) https://youtu.be/eTms_G1yYPc
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
ReplyDeleteAnd 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 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.
John Gillespie Magee Jr.
In 1972 while in the 6th grade we were required to memorize this poem. I did it with pleasure and it has stayed in my heart ever since.
DeleteOne of our local TV stations (WBZ?) used to open the Brodcast day with the national Anthem, Morning prayer, and High Flight (With the F-104) https://youtu.be/eTms_G1yYPc
DeleteWhen I was a young kid I could do that with my spirit, I'm earthbound now, those flightful times, another country.
ReplyDelete