Oh, I
have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And
danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunwards I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of
sun-split clouds – and done a thousand things
You
have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High
in the sunlit 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, 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.