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. 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 windswept 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.