Sense Sonnet - Pumper

"Where's Mo?" - LP Zoo

Around the Swan Pond I am known
As big Mo, the trumpeter swan.
But as a swan, I am alone,
Cuz all the other swans have gone.
But there are lots of ducks and geese
That come play in my pond with me.
So through the seasons there's no cease
To playmates here for company.
My fav'rite game is hide and seek.
It's hard to hide in leaves of green,
My white feathers - easy to peek.
My best hiding is winter scene.

I blend in oneness with the snow.
I hear birds next to me, "Where's Mo?"

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

First Snow - LP Zoo

Red panda cubs - tiz time to go
Outside at the Lincoln Park Zoo,
And play for first in the snow.
For sis and bro this game is new.
The stuff is white and cold and slick,
But does not make a sound or smell.
Of course we gave it a good lick,
But as a snack - snow's not that swell.
We rolled around in snow and felt
The chilly flakes on our fur.
But then the snow did quickly melt,
And left us dripping wet for sure.

But snow is great - wanna know why?
Cuz bamboo treats are stuck nearby.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Tongue in Cheek - LP Zoo

A snow monkey ambassador
Assigned to the Lincoln Park Zoo.
'Twas stationed in Japan before.
I go where I am asked - I do.
The humans here are very nice.
I hear them chattering a lot.
Japanese language - quite precise,
But English be precise? - tiz not!
So when the keepers talk to me,
My understanding takes a while.
Helpful to humans - I can be.
If I don't understand - I smile.

Whether I'm hearing Japanese
Or English- tiz my goal to please.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Maybe... - LP Zoo

A European white stork chick,
I was hatched at Lincoln Park Zoo,
By the best folks that I might pick,
Raising me good as good they do.
My biological folks, they
Are not, and tell me that I came
Just as an egg from Detroit way.
My folks then hatched me just the same
As if I be their very own.
I pester with questions a lot.
Rich imaginings - I am prone,
Not satisfied with what I've got.

The folks tweet I've gone over board.
They chirp that I am not a Ford.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Protozoa

Protozoa have been around
Since beginning of time on Earth.
One celled life form that does abound,
Absorbing all that has food worth.
Most are microscopic in size,
Surrounding victims in membrane,
Even each other - a surprise?
No - since none of them have a brain.
But humans have been doing stuff
Affecting all - even one cell.
When will nature have had enough?
Will small get bigger? Who can tell?

I am just swimming in the sea.
Some sort of blob grabs hold of me...

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

I Eye Too - LP Zoo

A chameleon's got the eye
To examinate all to come,
Flying, swinging or walking by,
Seeing all - focus in on some,
Especially the insect sort
That I do like to take for lunch.
And I am happy to report
That here, I get them by the bunch.
Here being the Lincoln Park Zoo,
Where I spy humans lots also,
Watching them watching me, I do.
Humans set odd sights - doncha know!

Here come the humans, old and young,
Tasteless - no need to give'em tongue.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Escort Card

Victorian era required
Young ladies to be chaperoned.
Young men with young ladies desired
An intro that would be condoned,
Hence, the "escort card" came to be.
Slipping the card from him to her,
Bending the rules - some cheekily,
A "break the ices" to be sure.
For example a his might say,
"Please, may I.C.U. home tonight?"
And his response a "Yea" or "Nay,"
Such caused chaperones  quite a fright.

Now he and she do it by phone.
There is no call for chaperone.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

A Roar Apart - LP Zoo

I hear her roaring from inside,
Molly, the tigress, taunting me,
"You're just a boy, Pavel," she cried,
"And not enough for this lady."
But this tiger was taught to show
Respect for feline feminine.
I've been here long enough to know
That when I am out, she is in.
So let her do her teasing roar,
Cuz we will not be face to face.
I am here as ambassador
From my kind to the human race.

Teasing aside, I'm here to do
My job at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Pavel - LP Zoo

Call me Pavel, a tiger guy
Pawsing here at Lincoln Park Zoo,
Chew on Chicago and say, "Hi."
So far I like it - yes I do!
Amur (Siberian of old),
I like the wild and winter clime,
And am quite comfy in the cold.
But you can spot me any time.
You will know when you spot my stripes
In a cat nap or on the prowl,
Even close up, face to face - yipes!
And listen for my "howdy" growl.

Come visit me where I do dwell.
I got a tiger tale to tell.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Standing Day Gecko - LP Zoo

A Standing day gecko I be.
Standing was some human doc dude.
I am happiest on a tree,
With flattened toe pads that protrude.
I am most active during day,
Unusual for a gecko.
I come from Madagascar way,
Munching on insects - doncha know!
I do like to communicate,
Be it by squeak or croak or click.
And when it's time to choose a mate,
My choice for lifetime I do pick.

You can see me, I can see you,
At my place is Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

List Me Wide Awake - LP Zoo

A good colobus monkey girl,
I have been all my three months old,
So Santa Claus on his trip whirl
Will put me on his list, I'm told
By Mom who says tiz the season
For me to get a special gift,
Cuz I'm special - tiz the reason.
My spirits are in such a lift.
I am excited as can be,
That Santa Claus is stopping by,
Just to bring a good gift for me
For being a good girl - that's why!

I'm s'posed to be asleep, Mom said.
But I'm too pumped to stay in bed.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Howdy Doody - LP Zoo

Howdy Doody - some humans say
This here baby langur looks like,
I guess becuz of my orange way.
I kind of look some human - yike!
But just a temporary hue,
Mom tells me so she can keep track
Of me at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
A long time Mom - she knows the knack.
Mom knows that humans come to seek
The baby out in any crowd.
So Mom allows time for a peek,
But not too much peeking allowed..

At the Zoo - all reason, all rhyme,
Tiz always Howdy Doody time.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Be All of Be Claws

As a giant armadillo,
I tire of humans trying to
Check out the claws of long ago -
Did what have longer than I do?
Yes, dinosaurs probably did -
A claw found here, a claw found there.
But who are these trying to kid?
Tiz relative for those who care
How long is claw compared to bod?
And dino bods are hard to find.
But check out how my bod be clawed,
And I am the whoppingest kind.

I really like Xmas because
I unwrap gifts with sandy claws!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Love Her Hover - LP Zoo

What did this snow monkey boy ask
For Santa to bring me this year?
A hover board was Santa's task
To give me the holiday cheer.
I thought of all the places that
I could hover board to and fro
My Lincoln Park Zoo habitat.
There'd be no place I could not go.
But then Mom gave me the bad news,
Hover boards were catching on fire.
Something safer I'd need to use,
And Mom as always did inspire.

I got my gift, my spirits soared.
I got Mom as my hover board.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Tumbleweed

I tumble and tumble along,
A "tumble weed" my common name.
Called "wind witch" as I'm blowin' strong.
Called "Russian thistle" cuz I came
Imported seeds to U.S. west
In Eurasian flax shipments, and
Took root, grew up, severed in quest
To spread my seeds across the land,
Thorny and noxious to all beast.
When all dried out, I can catch fire.
Humans like me, not in the least,
Pleasing humans - not my desire.

Tiz my mission to tumble, so
More of my kind will spread and grow.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Under Attack

They came - invaders in my walls,
Picking their spots from which to fight.
My forces were on constant calls
To minimize their awesome might.
Uneasy peace many a year.
They would attack just now and then.
My mercenaries would appear,
And send them back to wait again.
But they were patient ever so.
I weakened as the time went by.
Slowly my defenses did go.
'Twas just the way, no matter why.

Bacteria throughout me spread.
They won, I lost - cuz I am dead.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Tiz the Taza Season - LP Zoo

Frosty the Snowman - howdy do.
Taza the snow lepard I be.
Welcome to the Lincoln Park Zoo.
But where's the snow for you and me?
Tiz time for snow to get it on.
Chicago's winter's tame so far.
But when snow comes, you will be gone.
You are for my treat - yes you are.
With mouth and eyes and carrot nose,
And your colorful scarf and hat.
While the Windy City wind blows,
I am inclined to smack you flat.

And so tiz the season because
You're gonna meet SanTaza claws.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Gimme that Lump of Coal

Santa Claus did think Lois Lane
Was a very bad girl one year,
So left a lump of coal quite plain
For Lois who did feel no cheer.
After while Superman dropped by
Finding Lois in a sad state,
Listened as Lois told him why,
Lifting her spirits would be great.
Better than just the card he'd planned,
For Lois, Superman did press
That lump of coal hard in his hand,
And turned it to a diamond - yes!

Proving that a lump of coal can
Be a great gift from Superman.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Santa Snacka - LP Zoo

Bolivian gray titis do
Enjoy all the monkey life in
The Primate House, Lincoln Park Zoo.
For peanuts, we do have a yen.
Tiz the season, and so there is
Right across from my habitat,
The spot where Santa does his biz,
And I have heard some rumors that
Jolly Ol' really likes to snack.
So I keep all my peanuts out
Of sight from a Santa attack.
Out of sight, out of mind - no doubt!

Cookies and milk, let Santa eat.
Those snacks are not my kind of treat.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Hush Little Langur - LP Zoo

Hush little baby, go to sleep.
Momma's singing a lullaby
To lull you into dream land deep,
So just snug up and close each eye.
Little orange bundle, Momma will
Hold you safely, and gently rock
You back and forth and back until
The getting sleepy wings will flock
To fly you off through slumber air.
And Momma's lullaby will go
All the way with you flying there.
You are my precious - always know.

A baby langur that be you,
Sweetest in the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

No Takin for Granted - LP Zoo

A Sichuan takin, I get stuff
From humans at Lincoln Park Zoo,
Called enrichment that's cute enough,
But not so cute that I won't chew.
Tiz the season for them to make
Dolls of the Frosty family.
A lot of effort humans take
For something that will not long be.
But I have learned from my time here,
Human behavior can be weird,
But in the Zoo, nothing to fear.
Tiz good to know I am endeared.

I am enriched by my Zoo stay.
Humoring humans is okay.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Colobus Kid - LP Zoo

A colobus monkey I be,
Born September, twenty fifteen.
Come to Primate House and see me,
Part of the Lincoln Park Zoo scene.
When I was born I was all white.
As time goes by my body will
Change mostly black as is the night,
But my long fluffed tail be white still.
Mom's been showing me the ropes here.
I'm getting good at swinging 'bout.
I show off when humans appear.
This girl gets pixxed a lot - no doubt!

No human name for me yet - heck!
C'mon Zoo donor - write a check!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

In Gene of Us?

Intelligence of humankind -
Do certain genes improve I.Q.?
Always be studies of the mind -
Why do we think? Why do we do?
When Albert Einstein died, his brain
Was kept preserved to study so
Future studies might just explain
Why Einstein knew all he did know.
A "master race" some humans yearn
Could be for bad or be for good.
From the past, the future can learn
What we should not and what we should.

Humans need more of gene dispense
That give humans more common sense.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Wisdom Bird

I am called Wisdom and I be
The oldest wild bird that be known.
1951 - who hatched? Me!
Over three million miles I've flown.
I be a Laysan albatross.
My home be the Midway Atoll.
Six times I have been tagged across
My years for human study role.
Thirty six chicks I have done hatched.
The humans keep count of such things.
A Super Mom, I be unmatched.
Just day by day, I spread my wings.

Two thousand fifteen - still Mom fit.
Upon my latest egg I sit.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Vulture Culture

In groups we vultures like to be.
Humans have given us group names.
Called volt we're resting in a tree.
Called wake we're in some finding aims.
Called kettle we're being in flight.
But as scavenging birds of prey,
We have had a bad p.r. plight.
Remove us is the human way,
From the worlds of both new and old.
Upon dead carcasses we feed.
Bad feelings for us, humans hold.
We vultures do fulfill a need.

All animals live and die do.
We vultures are the clean up crew.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

She Suffrages On

Country after country has let
The women vote to some degree.
Saudi Arabia did get
The latest vote go ahead be.
King Abdullah, before he died,
Promised his female subjects rights,
If they followed strict rules applied,
Ballots could be in their veiled sights.
Of course the men still run the show,
But at the least, women begin
Toward some equality to go,
Not just as property of men.

One country left - women can't vote -
Vatican City - God does note!

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

When - Then - LP Zoo

Being the littlest can be
Challenge for a gorilla girl.
My two big sisters poke at me,
Their arms and legs ever awhirl.
I used to think that on Mom's back,
I would be safe from sisters two
From launching any ground attack.
But then found out that sisters do
Grab me, swinging by airy rope,
In arms and legs they sweep me up.
They plop me down. Does it hurt? Nope!
But does their game annoy me? Yup!

When will I grow bigger, Mom? When?
And when I do, big sisters - Then...

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Winter Love - LP Zoo

He whispers to her verses sweet.
Tiz the season - Lincoln Park Zoo,
And love is in the air replete
With rhymed reason for winter woo.
On heated rocks, the couple sit
Close - one red face to one red face.
Be there some blushing over it?
No - just their color in this case.
A Japanese pagoda near
Helps set quite a romantic scene
To make the moment all more dear,
As both share loving 'twixt and 'tween.

Japanese macaque snow monkeys,
Upon love's promises - both seize.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Boar for More

A wild boar as celebrity,
For mooving in with a cow herd.
Banana, the humans call me -
A name that makes me sound a nerd.
I wanted better vantage point
To study humans acting weird,
But not get them all out of joint.
The cow thing worked - got me endeared.
And sure enough the humans got
All excited about the why
Of cow companionship I sought,
Expounding theories to apply.

'Twas quite boaring in the wild, so
Gave taming the humans a go.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

A New Deep Sound

"Songs of the Humpback Whale" album,
1970 first released,
Record went multi platinum.
These whale songs since have never ceased.
Most songs recorded have been male,
Prob'ly a wooing show off thing.
But now new songs heard from the whale
Indicate the female may sing.
Songs are in a low frequency,
Unlike the loud sounds the males make.
So perhaps the more toned down she
Sings more hushed for harmony sake.

A hit that should sell very well,
By female humpback whale - Adele!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Bird of Impatience - LP Zoo

Oh when will this flamingo go
To join the grown up birds outside?
Behind the scenes is nice but slow.
Bird House doors - c'mon open wide,
And across the Lincoln Park Zoo
Let me fly to the time and place
Where my fellow flamingos do
Keep up all their bright feathered pace,
Especially standing on one
Leg with other tucked under bod.
No idea why this stance is done,
But not to do it would seem odd.

I look real close at me to see
When pinkish orangish feathers be.