In 1957
Soviets sent a dog
named Laika into space
aboard Sputnik 2 –
the first earthling
in orbit ever
She did not
survive the trip
I imagine she barked
in space all alone
jumping at comets
she saw out her window
tail and tongue wagging
until finally subsiding
to a sad whimper dying
closer to heaven than
any had ever attained
Chagall 2016
Alphabet City 