'I Love Lucy'

‘I Love Lucy’ was broadcast into space
From 1951 for many series filmed at pace.
The creatures on Zaltonar, nearest planet to our own
Learnt about our manners, about our needs, about our home

They sped in ships of glass a thousand metres long
Across the Milky Way and though the trip was long
They practised Lucy’s antics, her speech rhythms and her falls
And by the time they got here they were really on the ball

Martin Zappo, youngest captain of his race,
Tall and green and afro-haired, full vim and grace
Descended down the gang-plank onto pastures new and firm
But not one thing was living, not one tree, one moss, one worm

The ships had only got the fuel to travel here one way
There being no human help left the Zaltonans had to stay
Quickly they ran out of food, of mirth, or anything at all
Their corpses rot millennia hence, in tribute to Lucille Ball