Summary

The text is a whimsical and metaphorical exploration of the idea that dogs have a secret desire and ability to fly amongst the stars, paralleling humanity's own aspirations to transcend earthly bounds.

Abstract

"Dogs in Space" is a creative piece that anthropomorphizes dogs, suggesting they dream not just of chasing cars or breaking leashes, but of interstellar travel. It humorously attributes spacefaring qualities to dogs, such as using their ears as solar sails and their infamous flatulence as altitude jets. The narrative draws a parallel between the dog's yearning for flight and humanity's own space exploration endeavors, highlighting the shared desire to return to a place we consider home—whether it be Sirius for the dogs or Earth for humans. The poem concludes by acknowledging the loyalty and determination of both dogs and humans in their respective quests for home, despite the risks involved.

Opinions

The author playfully suggests that dogs' behaviors, such as chasing cars or leaping for Frisbees, are indicative of their desire to break free from Earth's limitations and soar through space.
The text humorously reinterprets canine traits (e.g., floppy ears, barking) as functional adaptations for space

Dogs in Space

Many who know dogs know

they sometimes run while sleeping.

How cute, we say. They’re dreaming

of breaking leashes or

catching cars. Fools.

They’re breaking, yes. Catching?

Sure. But breaking limits

and catching stars.

The secret’s not seen when dogs

hang their heads out windows.

Then, dogs seem gloriously happy,

grinning canine grins of acceleration.

We smile, we pat them, and we miss

the dogged despair that comes

when they are pulled back in the car.

You see, dogs can fly.

Oh, not on earth. The closest

they come are valiant, leaping

attempts to catch Frisbees, which,

not accidentally, look like flying

saucers. That’s why they jump:

They think they can board.

You see, dogs can fly

between the stars. If they go fast

enough, they gulp not air, but

plasma: the Rottweiler ramjet.

Their floppy ears aren’t just cute,

they’re solar sails. That basset’s

a navigator, angling for a good

solar wind to take him home.

And as for those famous doggie farts,

fueled by massive consumption

of broccoli and jelly beans,

those aren’t just attitude, friend.

Those are altitude jets.

And while they do love us,

what dogs want most

is to go home. Don’t

believe me? Ask Laika.

She fought to be on Sputnik 2,

beating out three peasants

and an ambitious bear.

And while they love us,

seriously, they do, dogs

love us most not for the can

opener, but for Apollo.

They want to be fed

like nobody’s business —

but they want to go home

to Sirius enough to die in orbit.

Wait a minute. Apollo. Soyuz.

Challenger. Vostok. Columbia.

Hey. We want to go home

that badly too. Well.

Look at that. Dumb

as dogs, and just as loyal

as man’s best friend, humanity

will keep leaping for Frisbees

and dying in orbit, if need be

just so in the end,

we get to go home.

THE END

Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

This poem was first published by Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine.

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