Good dog. You’re on the shaggy side of space
Laika I’ll miss you and our long days of fun
Playing with our stick in the big field
Even when you were a bad and stupid dog
Before you were inclined to nation and science –
What did you see then? Cats constellatory,
in revolt? You didn’t find that humbling
Or enough oxygen for more than a week
We sent you up just to spin you around
Puppy, it’s three times around and have a sleep.
We’ll find your brittlèd bones in the Pacific abyss
Encapsulated, diving down & collecting intricate doggy coral
To wave about, shouting Laika! Is this your ball?
Look, Laika’s back. Good dog. It never was, no.