Author Archives: phoenixpics

Carried down to its golden sandsIn the Wright Brothers’ steady handsYou flew across the beach at Kitty HawkBrand new. As swooping gullsCawed angrily “The sky is ours!You cannot have it too!”You soared above the reeds and dunes.Defying gravity. Making history. … Continue reading →

When the first explorers land on Mars They’ll be met by two ghosts – the spirits of Laika and Felicette, The first dog and cat in space. The puzzled looks on their faces will be priceless As they step off … Continue reading →

  Standing in the park, alone in the darkness, Anti-socially isolated from the world, Watching the spark of the space station crossing the sky, Climbing silently past Venus, arcing over Orion then fading From view between Leo’s outstretched paws I … Continue reading →

Almost everyone with even a passing interest in “space” knows the story of Laika, the Russian dog that flew into space, though few of them know the true, horrible story of her death. But very few people have any idea … Continue reading →

  I opened the cat box door and she flowed out like tar. Head down, huge round eyes sweeping left and right, Left and right, invisible searchlights looking for a place to hide, Frightened by every alien sight and sound … Continue reading →

    She never raised a paw in anger to me; nothing but love Was ever painted on her tiny tapering face. She didn’t so much walk as stalk across the floor, Her always-out claws, shattered hips and arched spine … Continue reading →

  Maybe, if we all look to the sky On the next cold, clear night, Seek out Mars shining there like A red-hot coal and wish really hard Opportunity will wake. Children do it all the time And it seems … Continue reading →

  I’ve been here before. Many sols ago I rolled to a halt As the sky went strangely dark, The Sun fading to a dull red spark. I just waited that storm out, Watched the Sun come and go, Ghostly … Continue reading →

  Note: this is a transcript of a short video clip recovered from Mars in 2094, after the end of the War of Independence. Experts agree that the video was shot by one of the Year 3 class from Tharsis … Continue reading →