I've always liked this poem. When I was in High School, I'd spend Saturday night at a friend's house (or one or more would come over to mine) and we'd watch Bob Wilkins' monster theater on Channel 3 with the sound turned really low (so as not to awaken parents). When the monster movie was over, Channel 3 would sign off by showing a short film of an F-104 Starfighter flying around while someone recited "High Flight". After that they'd play the national anthem and stop transmitting until around 5:00 a.m.
I always got tears in my eyes even then, before I understood the significance of the poem. Today I stumbled across the link above and had to reach for the kleenex. Of course, I have other things going on in my life that probably contributed, but I really like this poem and thought I'd share it with you.
Into the distance, a ribbon of black Stretched to the point of no turning back A flight of fancy on a windswept field Standing alone my senses reeled A fatal attraction holding me fast, how Can I escape this irresistible grasp?
Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted Just an earth-bound misfit, I
Ice is forming on the tips of my wings Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything No navigator to guide my way home Unladened, empty and turned to stone
A soul in tension that's learning to fly Condition grounded but determined to try Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I
Above the planet on a wing and a prayer, My grubby halo, a vapour trail in the empty air, Across the clouds I see my shadow fly Out of the corner of my watering eye A dream unthreatened by the morning light Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night
There's no sensation to compare with this Suspended animation, A state of bliss Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I
-------------------------------- Bob Wilkins!! I met him at the first science fiction convention I ever attended, back in 1978. Still have the autographed picture
Posted by Gaseous Anomaly (Member # 114) on :
I had to learnthis poem for my Junior Cert English exam when I was 15, and I always liked it. Not as much as Hardy's "During Wind and Rain", though.
------------------ The unexplained phenomenon that crippled the U.S.S. Unimpeachable -- Gaseous Anomaly... What anomalises gaseously.
I've always liked this poem. When I was in High School, I'd spend Saturday night at a friend's house (or one or more would come over to mine) and we'd watch Bob Wilkins' monster theater on Channel 3 with the sound turned really low (so as not to awaken parents). When the monster movie was over, Channel 3 would sign off by showing a short film of an F-104 Starfighter flying around while someone recited "High Flight". After that they'd play the national anthem and stop transmitting until around 5:00 a.m.