High Flight….The Last Roll Over! (On Sad Demise Of Father) Poem by saadat tahir

High Flight….The Last Roll Over! (On Sad Demise Of Father)

Rating: 4.8


”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 nor even eagle flew-
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space, ”
I raced and touched the shadows of Grace.

Source adapted from: ….
Wikipedia
http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gillespie_Magee, _Jr.
• Portions of this poem appear on many headstones in Arlington National Cemetery.
• Today it serves as the official poem of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force and it is required to be recited by memory by first-year cadets at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) where it is also depicted in its Field House.
Cadet Bashir Ali Khan…30th April 1922…17th July 2009

(The Gentlemen Cadets who opted to go to Pakistan, left the Academy on the night of 14 October 1947. The first two generations of the officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces are products of the Indian Military Academy. (RIAF) (Dheradun)
http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Military_Academy

Later opted for Air force ….got his RPAF (Royal Pakistani Air Force)
wings(I have it stashed with me) …later yet PAF. ₪ Flying the so called temperamental tempests the fury’s and the spitfires…
……..several pages cut……to be posted later with proper references

He was a very loving father an exemplary husband and a very humble person always referring to himself as a soldier or a peasant. Living a life of almost ascetic simplicity. I miss him bitterly!

May he rest in peace, his abode be heaven and be blessed with the bounties of GOD! ...Aameen

islamabad
18 July,2009

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Hunter Lyda 06 June 2012

at the end you said touched the shadows of grace did you do that on purpose. becasues as i recall in the original high flight it was and touched the face of god

4 0 Reply
Linda Ori 29 July 2009

Saadat - this is a lovely, heartfelt tribute to your wonderful father. It is filled with deep emotion and respect for someone you care deeply for, and the loss has created a huge hole in your heart, which is understandable. There is a special bond between a father and son that cannot be denied. He was your mentor, your anchor and your friend. I know that he is still there with you, and is proud of the son that you are. My heart goes out to you. The poem you reference here I have read many times, and it always fills me with such awe and freedom from the bonds of existence. Your poem title is perfect, and such a fitting farewell to your father. His spirit is still soaring................. with sincere sorrow.......... Linda xx

3 1 Reply
M A 01 August 2009

My sincere condolences. I have nothing wise to say, since I have never lost anybody close to me. Only, that it must be difficult. The poem is beautiful, romantic, timeless, seamless, airy. Seems to be of the Persian style.

3 1 Reply
Maitreyee Joshi 01 August 2009

it is a beautiful poem.i too had the flight while i read it.may your father's soul rest in peace.

3 0 Reply
Akram Saqib 13 June 2018

philosophic, nice and deep thoughts, thanks for sharing

1 0 Reply
Rini Shibu 07 May 2017

I have topped the wind swept heights with easy grace I raced and touched the shadow of grace Beautiful lines

2 0 Reply
Saadat Tahir 08 June 2017

thanx a lot Rini kind words....)

0 0
Rameeza Nasim 22 February 2017

Ameen a very touching poem

1 0 Reply
Saima Sharif 09 February 2017

Walaikumussalam! A Tribute to a father, well written in amazing words.

1 0 Reply
Nosheen Irfan 17 July 2016

Marvellous write. The imagery is sublime. A very creative work that depicts death as the highest flight. I find your vision very vast. May your father's soul rest in eternal peace. A son couldn't have paid a better tribute.

2 0 Reply
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saadat tahir

saadat tahir

Islamabad-Pakistan
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