RICHARD ARLEN TREMPS

HIGH FLIGHT

OH, I HAVE SLIPPED THE SURLY BONDS OF EARTH

AND DANCED THE SKIES OF LAUGHTER-SILVERED

WINGS:

SUNWARD I'VE CLIMBED. AND JOINED THE TUM-

MIRTH

OF SUN-SPLIT CLOUDS--AND DONE A HUNDRED

THINGS

YOU HAVE NOT DREAMED OF--WEBBLED 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 HALL OF AIR

UP, UP THE LONG DELIRIOUS, BURNING BLUE

I'VE TOPPED THE WINDSWEPT HEIGHTS WITH

EASY GRACE

WHERE NEVER LARK OR EVEN EAGLE FLEW

AND, WELLS WITH SILENT LIFTING MIND I'VE TROD

THE HIGH UNTRESPASSED SANOTITY OF SPACE,

PUT OUT MY HAND, AND TOUCHED THE FACE OF

GOD.

JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE, JR.