Why I Love Star Trek

I am watching the episode of Star Trek known as “Schisms.” I don't remember what it is about, although I've seen it before. But it does contain one of my favorite Star Trek funnies. Data, the android (read: robotic human) invites everyone to his poetry reading. His ninth poem is one of his own creation: “Ode to Spot.” It's great.

“Ode to Spot”
Felis Catus is your taxonomic nomenclature,
An endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature.
Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses
Contribute to your hunting skills and natural defenses.
I find myself intrigued by your sub-vocal oscillations,
A singular development of cat communications
That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection.
A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents:
You would not be so agile if you lacked its counter-balance.
And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion
It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.
Oh Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display
Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array,
And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend
I none-the-less consider you a true and valued friend.

HAHA!