DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-May 1942

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Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-May 1942

1942: Front

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 sun-lit silence. Hovering 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  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."

This poem was written by a young flyer of
the Royal Canadian Air Force, who was killed
in action on the Burma Road. His name is
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
(found in Nile's file)

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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 sun-lit silence. Hovering 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 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." This poem was written by a young flyer of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who was killed in action on the Burma Road. His name is John Gillespie Magee, Jr. (found in Nile's file)