High Flight

"Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward Ive 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. Hovring there, Ive chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue Ive topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace where never lark, or even eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind Ive trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space, put out my hand, and touched the face of God."

-John Gillespie Magee