High Flight

by John Gillespie Magee (1922-1941)

poem recited by Patricia L. Cummings

John Gillespie Magee wrote the poem,"High Flight," when he was only nineteen years old. He served as a pilot, flying various types of Spitfire planes for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was killed while fighting in WWII, as he flew a Spitfire MkVb AD291 (VZ-H), according to online sources.

Christa McAuliffe, History teacher and astronaut

The late Christa McAuliffe, History teacher at Concord High School, Concord, New Hampshire, and space astronaut selected in 1985 to be in the "Teacher in Space" program. To the shock and dismay of onlookers, the shuttle blew up over Florida, taking the lives of all on board.

Sometimes it is easy to become attached to a poem or a piece of music because of its associations. In this case, this piece of poetry was published in a local newspaper when astronaut/school teacher, Christa McAuliffe died in the space shuttle incident, and this city, Concord, New Hampshire, was shaken with grief and the pain of loss of our own bright, shining star. I had substitute taught some of Christa's History classes at Concord High School, and had met her. I love the poem so much, I have written it in Calligraphy and it hangs in my upstairs hallway.

If you visit Concord, be sure to stop in at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium on the grounds of the New Hampshire Technical Institute. Day passes are provided to members of the Concord Public Library, if you stop by.