Laika Poem by Adnana Zeljkovic

Never have I seen
sadder eyes than Laika’s,
never so lost a look!
Paddling with her soft paws
in inimical vacuum,
(nothing to draw you to your bosom
like Mother Earth’s gravitation)
herself soft snowflake,
opening her soundless mouth
trying to utter either cry or sigh,
just a tiny, tiniest cry,
no matter if no one hears…
But as in a dream,
her efforts were in vain.
To send a dog up there
to be first living creature in space,
how insane!
After in her mind, like a prayer,
wishing farewell
to stray dogs and stray cats
of Moscow streets,
to her beloved four leg fellow,
she probably thought
I shall surely perish,
but my spirit will bellow
of man’s cruelty -
Vast universe will echo…
Never, never have I seen
sadder eyes than Laika’s.