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High Flight (an Airman's Ecstasy)
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Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Sunwa .........
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John Gillespie Magee
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| Comments about this poem (High Flight (an Airman's Ecstasy) by John Gillespie Magee) |
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Click here to write your comments about this poem (High Flight (an Airman's Ecstasy) by John Gillespie Magee)
Ripper Moore (4/4/2008 1:43:00 PM)
Long ago, a literature teacher told me that a poem should have rhyme and meter, but be read or recited in such a way that the listener is largely unaware of it. This is easier with some poems than others, of course. The U.S. Air Force used to run a sort of commercial, wherein you saw a jet fighter (F-11 Starfighter I think) flying amid sun-split clouds and footless halls of air, while a deep sonorous voice recited this poem. He did it so well that I honestly did not realize it rhymed until I saw it in print. It made a profound impression at the time, and this poem remains one of the most beautiful and evocative I have ever heard. I only recently learned that Magee wrote this when he was only nineteen, and that he died in an air accident a month afterwards. So sad, and such a tragedy for the world- think what he might have written by now... learning that made me appreciate the poem even more. |
Sherry Malone (3/31/2008 11:28:00 PM)
This poem has been in my heart since 1968 after hearing it for the first time at Upper Heyford England Air Force Base... I am a Military BRAT and proud of it.
1973 I lived at Eglin AFB, Florida and at midnight when a certain TV channel was signing off the National Athem was played with the background being Air Force Jets soaring thru the heavens with HIGH FLIGHT being recited by a deep voice.. Oh the chills it would bring to me... I live far away from any Military base but I do live within 5 minutes from Bristol Motorspeedway in Tenn. and each Nascar Event the Blue Angels do a fly over and each time I watch these marvelous machines fly over I can hear this poem in my heart and still get the chills of great pride of the USA.... I guess becuase I relate to this poem from my childhood.
I am so thankful I have found it once again to be able to share it with friends and family..... |
Caroline Misner (3/25/2008 9:01:00 PM)
I have found it!
This is one of the most beautiful peoms ever written written,
I first studied this poem in my 12th grade senior English class. I fell in love with it but could never find a copy anywhere. Now after 25 years I've found it again. |
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