Laika to Ground Control I donāt suppose youāre coming back for me but I donāt mind, itās nice out here. You said before I launched: thereās no way back āIām a halfway thing, more bullet than dog out into the dark morning and forever to this black field where Great Canine winks her distant starry eye. Empty as the space that lies between two barks. Full to bursting.
Laika to Ground Control can I chase my tail? I know you want me to sit still but itās calling me, just for a second, please. I can see our planet from here smooth like the wind washed it soft and blue, weāre going round, Iām having the time of my life you donāt have to worry but can I chase my tail? Thereās nothing here for me to knock over. I miss you. But I donāt mind, in a hold silver as this any mongrel can be a heroine; any stray can make history.
Laika to Ground Control [BACKGROUND STATIC] sorry, I forgot what I was going to say, Laika to Ground Control from above Earth is alive at night, light golden as a million miniature suns, makeshift constellations. What do I look like from below? Do I glimmer like a freckle or an exit wound? Iāve been sitting still. You donāt have to worry. I miss you.
Laika to Ground Control they have summer in space, did you know? The hours walk warmer and warmer, the ceiling gleams with June moons begging for a howl. Iām lonely, moons donāt howl back. I would sit still for years if it meant I could go back to you. I miss you. I donāt mind. I miss you though.
Laika to Ground Control I miss you. If you would come out here and pet me I swear to Dog Iāll be good, never bark again, youāll have to find me a new name. Kometka, little comet, maybe, I would crash into the sea to swim to your side. Be your satellite. Youāre bigger than Earth in my eyes, I donāt need stars, only you.
Laika to Ground Control there are pinpricks of light behind my eyes. Hot like a bite. The world is fast and unbreakable, and Iām just a dog. And I miss you.
Laika to Ground Control I miss you. Have I told you that yet? Out there in the silk-black nothing theyāve long forgotten what time is. In here time crawls. In here everything shimmers, in here itās just me. I think Iām dying. You donāt have to worry, I was nothing and you swung me from alley to orbit, from the dirt to the stars. I donāt mind. I just miss you. I miss you like the space that lies between two breaths. Full to burning.]