I’m working on a series of poems about what it means to take animals (and other biota) into space. The Ark is the latest edition.
Let me be perfectly up front with my expert conclusion–we (humanity) cannot survive long-term without (at least a well-curated subset of) the biota of our planet. This is beyond biophilia–the benefits to well-being contact with animals and nature afford us. This is about the services such biota provide. I’ve written about the why in my Project Abeona pair: What Noah Knew and No Killing Moths.
The Ark is about something different–how easy or difficult it will be for animals to exist in space. You’ve met Olive (the parrot) in What Noah Knew and the truth about wings. Olive embodies the joy animals might find in both human company and freedom from gravity.
Let’s be honest–neither human company nor space are easy for all species. The Ark goes deep, drawing on my early aspirations to be the first xenoveterinarian (aspirations thwarted at an early age when I needed glasses and was told astronauts couldn’t have visual impairment). While I gave up on outer space, I’ve enjoyed veterinary adventures planet-bound…and writing that helped me break atmo in my imagination.
Enjoy the series (one small purchase required):
the truth about wings – Abyss & Apex
Home 
Leave a comment