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 sunsplit 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, delirous, burning blue
I've topped the wind swept 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.
~John Gillespie Magee~