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January 30, 2005
High Flight
In memory of my beloved Grandpa "Hack", who passed away on January 23rd, I am going to post a poem that I dedicate to him. I printed this out the day before his funeral, because not only is it one of my most favorite poems, but it so aptly and beautifully describes the epic of the world's history that he took part in. Not only was it an epic, it was one of the most unique and deep pages in his life, and became a true and venerable thread of his character. It was his world then.
Some of his crewmembers contacted my Aunt Karen, and they told her in emotional and heartfelt words what "Hack" had been to them. Being a navigator on a B-17, he was the one they all looked to to get them home; the one who could trace a path on the sparkling blanket of stars and bring them roaring over the White Cliffs of Dover once again. Deep amid his charts and instruments, and serenaded by the quartet of throaty Pratt and Whittney radial engines, he plied his craft of precision in one of America's finest hours.
I am proud to be his grandson. I dedicate this poem by Royal Air Force Pilot John Magee Jr. to his honor and lasting memory.
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. Hov'ring 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, or 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 Magee Jr.
Posted by Grant at January 30, 2005 06:26 PM
Comments
That poem, particularly in light of your grandpa, is silencing... it leaves nothing to be said, only respectful stillness in his honor.
Posted by: Sarah at February 6, 2005 01:13 AM