I spent a delightful morning beginning to plan a Humanist Wedding Ceremony for July with a lovely couple today. I really love this very happy job!
This poem, High Flight, is one of Mr S’s favourites having found it some years ago. It was written by John Magee, Poet and Soldier, 1922–1941. In his seventh flight in a Spitfire Mk I, he had flown up to 33,000 feet. As he orbited and climbed upward, he was struck by words he had read in another poem — “To touch the face of God.” He completed his verse soon after landing. It never fails to move both of us and you can truly imagine the feelings of freedom as he ‘chased the shouting wind along’
“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 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.”
Spring is showing in various parts of the garden – crocuses in the little herb wall, little Tète à Tète daffodils in the Monkey planter made for me by a local artist, Jeremy Beswick, and Snowdrops close to the house.
maureenjenner
February 22, 2015 at 10:38 am
A happy and beautiful combination of animal, vegetable and mineral mixed with such exquisite poetry is guaranteed to bring pure delight. Thank you for sharing.
mybeautfulthings
February 22, 2015 at 11:11 am
I am delighted that you enjoyed this post. 🙂
Kate Happenence
February 22, 2015 at 8:22 am
I love the flowers, but even more so the monkeys. They’re amazing.
-Kate
mybeautfulthings
February 22, 2015 at 10:06 am
Aren’t they wonderful? They are the Three Wise Monkeys and were a commission piece that continues to delight me. 🙂
Kate Happenence
February 22, 2015 at 10:15 am
Very wonderful, and a lovely reminder of the wisdom every time you see them.
jpeggytaylor
February 22, 2015 at 7:34 am
What a wonderful poem and lovely Spring flowers too.
mybeautfulthings
February 22, 2015 at 10:05 am
I’m glad you liked it. I love how his thrill is conveyed so that the reader feels it too. 🙂
preciouspen1955
February 21, 2015 at 5:35 pm
That is some powerful poem had me soaring alongside thanks for sharing love the pics of spring so lovely a great happy post. Kathy.
mybeautfulthings
February 21, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Very special isn’t it? So glad it did the same for you as for us. 🙂
babyjill7...Marilyn Griffin
February 21, 2015 at 12:18 am
always love seeing your monkey planter…
mybeautfulthings
February 22, 2015 at 10:07 am
It pleases me greatly when the flowers begin to show. 🙂
hjbryant
February 20, 2015 at 8:28 pm
Another glorious poem. Thank you!
mybeautfulthings
February 20, 2015 at 8:36 pm
I was thinking of you when I decided to post that one today. Glad you liked it. 🙂