Last night I read this poem by Zbigniew Herbert, commemorating the unfortunate Laika, the first living creature to be launched into space. This morning I woke to discover that it was on this day in 1957 that the poor mutt was sent to a certain, and almost certainly agonising, death (about which, of course, the Soviets lied). Laika has an honourable place in the tacky iconography of Soviet space exploration, and several grandiose sculpted monuments - but Herbert's sad bleak poem is her true memorial.
I've always been fascinated by space dogs and space monkeys. There is something incredibly poignant about them, poor little chaps.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very British take on it. Won't somebody please think of the pets?!
ReplyDeleteAs a lifelong doggie person the link was much appreciated Nige, how on earth do we pronounce the poets Christian name.
ReplyDeleteNice seeing the Russkies making good use of their disused Anderson shelters.
Yes, it is a great poem. How amazing to think George Herbert was a distant forebear (if this claim is true). Laika looks a little like an Ivan Russell. How dastardly of the Russkies!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see mention of Polish poetry I think of this one - To Go to Lvov - which sums up all the if-onlys of life.
Herbert's poem gives dogs their due. We do owe them, you know.
ReplyDeleteMark, your dog's gaze seems particularly plaintive today.
I was always impressed that Laika was a stray instead of some appalling thoroughbred ponce that we in the West would surely have sent up. All in all though it would've probably preferred to have stayed scavenging the Moscow dustbins than what eventually happened to it.
ReplyDeleteLaika was the first animal to orbit the earth, not the first living thing shot into space.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals_in_space
Laika went up with several days of gelatinized food. It's not certain whether she was supposed to be euthanized by the last meal or so.
ReplyDeleteHowever, a piece of insulation broke off on takeoff (sound familiar?) and the air conditioning didn't work. Poor Laika died of heat exhaustion and panic only a few hours into her flight.
I believe one and all must glance at it.
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