On Friday, June 7, 2019, the City of Cape Canaveral hosted the Ribbon-Cutting ceremony for its new dog park, Rover's Space.  In honor of the event, the City invited me to read some poetry I had written for the occasion.  Both of these poems are Acrostic Poems.  This means that the first letter in each line spells out a message, in this case, "Laika", the first dog in space.  Acrostic Poetry is a neat way to expand the meaning of your poem, kind of like leaving a secret message!  Please feel free to post an example of an acrostic poem that you have written. 

The City asked me to write something focusing on "man's best friend", and here are the two for grand opening of Rover's Space:

Ad Astra Per Amicitia

 Like the twin stars of Procyon
Amiability gleams lucently
Interconnected, loyal, roving
Keenly reeling mirthfully
Adjoined, dog and best friend

Friendship * Loyalty * Love -- Unleashed

 "Let's be friends"
A child says to a dog
In an instant
Kinship without judgment
Always best friends

As a side note, "Ad Astra Per Amicitia" mean "To the Stars through Friendship".  It is a play on "Ad Astra per Aspera", a common saying meaning "To the Stars though Difficulties".   Secondly, Procyon is a binary star system in Canis Minor (Canis Minor being the little dog) constellation.  The idea of a binary star system being part of a dog constellation really evinced the relationship between a human and a dog, two bodies revolving around each other, together burning brighter than either one would alone.   

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