Pluto Downgraded

Note-- The Tulsa World Newspaper published my prose version of this in February 1999 and I wrote this version later. Poor orphaned Pluto is out in gloom and frigid cold Considered an outsider, his bitter sorrow unfolds Demoted from planet status he had enjoyed for years. He lost his brothers and sisters, amidst a flood of tears. He will dearly miss them though thousands of miles apart. All nine were family members with camaraderie at heart For seventy years they claimed him as they circled round the sun Now he’s no longer orbiting ethereal space in fun. He asks, “Why do earthlings think they are so very smart? You’d think they’d be aware of my spinning work of art Just a trans-Neptunian Object with ice caps at my poles? Astronomers will ponder when to outer space I stroll.”