Observing Grief (IX)

When I was in Washington in March, my mom and I were talking about poetry and what we would read at my grandfather’s funeral. This is one that she suggested and I just found it on the Internet.

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, â???? and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of â???? 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 ever eagle flew â????
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 (a RCAF officer killed in WWII)

My grandfather was a Navy pilot in WWII, flew with United Airlines, and used to take my brother and I up in his plane when we were little. Believe me, this fits well.

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About Jen

Jen isn't quite sure when she lost her mind, but it is probably documented here on Meditatio. She blogs because the world needs her snark at all hours of the night... and she probably can't sleep anyway.

2 thoughts on “Observing Grief (IX)

  1. Dear Jen,

    Our words cannot soften your sorrow,
    Or lessen your sadness today,
    But may God give you comfort and solace
    as time goes along its way.
    For the love of a wonderful grandfather
    lives on in the heart through each year.
    And death must not mean that you’ve lost him…
    For in memory he will always be near.

    Our sincere sympathy to you…
    Greta, Jens and Emily

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