Poetry Meme

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 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.


-- John Gillespie Magee, Jr,
Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force
born 1922, Shanghai
died 1941, over England

Strange & Norrell - nitpick?

Very much enjoying Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, but one aside made me pause for thought.

( Miniscule Potential Spoilerage )