Quote by John Gillispie Magee, Jr., High
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earthAnd danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirthOf sun-split clouds--and done a hundred thingsYou have not dreamed of--wheeled and soared and swungHigh in the sunlit silence, Hov'ring there,I've chased the shouting wind along, and flungMy eager craft through footless halls of air.Up, up the long, delirious, burning blueI've topped the windswept heights with easy graceWhere never lark, or even eagle flewAnd, while with silent, lifting mind I've trodThe high untrespassed sanctity of space,Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Summary
This quote, often known as "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee Jr., beautifully captures the exhilaration and freedom experienced by a pilot. Through vivid imagery, it depicts the sense of liberation as one leaves the confines of the earth and soars through the skies amidst the beauty of nature. The speaker expresses the endless possibilities and adventures that lie in aviation, reaching heights unknown to others and embracing the pure joy of flight. Ultimately, the quote suggests a profound connection to the divine, invoking a spiritual experience as the pilot metaphorically extends their hand to touch the face of God.