Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Snore Next Door - LP Zoo

Angus, the armadillo, here
Reporting from Lincoln Park Zoo.
I want to make it very clear
The rumors 'bout me are not true.
The possum who just recently
Moved in the habitat next door,
For some reason is mad at me,
I guess becuz of my loud snore.
And so this possum playing dead
Says that I am the one to blame,
For having such a noisy head.
A nasty neighbor - what a shame!

And so I curl up in my shell,
And keep on snoring loud as hell.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Diana Monkeys - LP Zoo

Diana monkey family,
Newly come to Lincoln Park Zoo.
Why does the name Diana be?
We have a white brow, yes we do,
That humans thought long time ago,
Our brow curved in such a way,
Looked like goddess Diana's bow.
Humans think weird - what can we say!
Mom and Dad and our two boys
Are happy in our new place.
For sure, each one of us enjoys
Watching you humans face to face.

On your African Journey - stop,
And you should find us way up top.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Taste for Leaves - LP Zoo

This baby sloth is growing true.
I'm soon approaching one year old,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Momma is helping me take hold
Of how my diet will soon change.
Instead of Momma's milk to drink,
My taste will go to leaves - sounds strange!
But Momma does know best I think.
Leaves are what sloths most like to eat.
All I need to get them is stick
My tongue around and pull in neat.
Sounds, all in all, like a fun trick.

I look at leaves about me be,
And soon those leaves will be in me.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Kagu - LP Zoo

The humans call me a kagu,
A South Pacific island bird,
Visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo,
Glad for the chance to spread the word
That quite endangered are my kind,
Due to a bunch of human stuff.
We are getting real hard to find,
So hope the help will be enough.
To hunt for bugs, I use my bill,
My nostrils covered with flaps be.
When digging in dirt as I will,
The dirt is kept outside of me.

Come by the Bird House and say, "Hi."
Flightless, I won't be on the fly.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Dyeing Poison Arrow Frog - LP Zoo

I am a frog found in Brazil,
Where human tribes do also live.
On arrow tips these humans will
Dip in poison my skin does give.
Also I'm rubbed on parrot skin
So that colors are multi dyed,
When the feathers grow out again,
Filling the humans with weird pride.
Dyeing poison arrow is thus
The name the humans gave to me -
A frog that causes all this fuss.
My name's longer than my bod be.

The humans at Lincoln Park Zoo
Are not as weird with stuff they do.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Plumage in Progress

We flamingos, mature of age,
Welcome our young chicks, we do,
To the lagoon where we engage
Visitors to Lincoln Park Zoo.
The young chicks' plumage is still gray,
But carotenoid food we eat
Will bring more orange/pink into play,
And as a flock, we'll blend complete.
Meanwhile we're all in the lagoon
Close together, and with good luck,
The chicks will look like us real soon,
And stop thinking they are a duck.

Young flamingos wonder whether
They be birds of dif'rent feather!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Laughing Kookaburra - LP Zoo

This laughing kookaburra bird
Is a guest at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Through the Bird House my laughs be heard,
Marking territory I do.
A hiccuping chuckle comes first,
And then intensifies in tone,
Into a raucous roar I burst,
With head thrown back, I laugh full blown.
From land under my kind come.
Carnivorous, we like to eat
Mice and lizards and insects some.
Venomous snakes can be a treat.

Come on by and visit my place.
I'll try not to laugh in your face.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Bella is One - LP Zoo

Bella - Happy Birthday to you,
Gorilla girl grown one year old.
Growing up at the Lincoln Park Zoo,
Day by day, you have rocked and rolled.
Gripped onto Mom, at first you stayed,
Checking out all to hear and see.
You watched your sisters as they played -
One day you thought. "Let it be me."
A year later, there is all place
On ground and to the highest climb,
That we can watch you give the chase,
And give us all a better time.

So what does the birthday girl eat?
Strawberry cake - sweet for the sweet.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Matthew Henson

Matthew Henson set new footprints
In nineteen o'nine in a place
He believed the North Pole, so hence
Was he the first man in that race?
A young black orphan, Henson had
For years shared Peary's North Pole dream.
He was Peary's closest comrade,
But far less credit, it would seem,
Whether or not 'twas Henson's foot
That really did stand first upon
The North Pole in human pursuit
Of being the first to get it on.

A mystery of history,
But Henson's foot of note should be.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Blowfly on the Fly

I am a blowfly cuz smells blow
From animals recently dead.
Fly to the carrion I do go
To have a bite and make my bed,
Laying my maggot eggs to hatch.
If humans come, they check the time
Of my doings and make a match
Of stuff to try to solve the crime -
Forensic entomology.
I prove a valued source of aid,
But live humans do bother me.
So I fly off from eggs I've laid.

Off this corpse I am very gone.
Pesky humans do carrion!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Root of Thought

Can't see the forest for the trees,
Humans don't think that trees think much.
Tree thoughts are dif'rent, if you please.
We trees do like to stay in touch.
Through roots, we share food underground
To help the weaker to survive.
We air warn bad bugs do abound,
So tanninize to stay alive.
We trees do know the human threat,
The urge for profit to destroy.
We can't do much about that yet.
Hope's in each human girl and boy.

Where there's a will there is a way,
As human youth climb us to play.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Flying High

Rudolph, the red nosed reindeer, leads
The reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh,
All of whom fly high on some weeds,
Fly agaric mushrooms some say,
That grow abundant in the North,
Easy for reindeer to ingest.
And on a buzz, reindeer go forth,
Delivering presents with zest,
Around the world in just one night.
On hallucinogenic high,
Wingless reindeer soar in full flight.
How else could Santa's reindeer fly?

As next Yuletide eve comes about,
Santa's reindeer are tripping out.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Red Wolf - LP Zoo

This red wolf lives on the west side,
Habitating Lincoln Park Zoo,
Sensing all the street traffic ride
Along the public avenue.
All the big city sights and sounds,
Rock and roll just paw steps away,
Passersby watching my leaps and bounds,
Enticing some to stop and play.
I have a fav'rite sound and sight,
When a siren sound I do hear,
And when I see a flashing light,
I am filled with excited cheer.

This red wolf howls and howls real good,
When sirens sound the riding hood.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Limb It Less

Places to go and things to see -
Human locomotion evolved.
Upright legs and feet came to be,
And mind over matter was solved -
Thinking then doing on the go,
Wayfaring all around the Earth.
The more traveled, the more to know,
The more of knowledge, more of worth!
But legs and feet became used less,
As humans traveled on wheels more,
And then came airplane travel - yes!
Walking became too much a chore.

As travel mode progresses on,
Human legs and feet will be gone.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

The Leaping Pope

Pope Gregory the 13th is
Best known for a timely decree -
Gregorian calendar biz,
So less confusion there might be.
Fifteen eighty two was the year,
Ten days got dropped to start the math
Of when and how leap days would steer.
The rules followed a tricky path
For calendar on time to seek.
Three thousand years from now will need
An extra day to take a tweak.
But none of us should fret, indeed.

So would it be a leap to say
Pope Gregory turned time his way!

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Flamingo in the Snow - LP Zoo

Okay flamingos - there's fresh snow
Just for us at Lincoln Park Zoo.
It's gonna melt too soon, and so
How 'bout flamingo fun to do.
Let's take advantage of cool clime,
And go flamingo - who is best
At making art in show off time.
Let us think outside of the nest.
We'll divvy up the habitat,
With each of us to get a space,
And once positioned where we're at,
We will compete in time and place.

Each take a turn and we will see
Who does the best artwork in pee.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Dot Thought - LP Zoo

Azizi here, gorilla guy,
In the midst of training to do
With human keepers - not sure why.
Tiz the deal - Lincoln Park Zoo.
Keepers have got this hi tech stuff.
I'm s'posed to pick from colored dots.
Of course the task is not too tough.
I do it and get peanuts - lots.
The humans on the other side
Seem to get a kick out of me.
They gather round from far and wide
When my performances do be.

Hey, I am up to any feat,
If there is something good to eat.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Tarkhan Dress

Buried, then dug up at Tarkhan,
A cemetery in Egypt.
Flax plant linen, I'd done a span
Not wearing well inside the crypt.
But a new lease on life I got,
As modern humans studied me.
Somehow by ancient hand was wrought,
Stitched and pleated beautifully.
My arm creases would tend to show
Someone had worn me and worn well.
Who? The humans would like to know,
But I of course will never tell.

Five thousand years old, humans guess,
I am the oldest known found dress.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Go West Young Clark - LP Zoo

Clark here, red panda bear, to say
Farewell to the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The word is that I'm on my way
To an adventure that is new.
Though I am still not one year old,
It is the time for ones like me,
When in the wild, to go forth bold,
And start up a new family.
Chicago winter has been fun.
The snow makes for a great play ground.
A lot of romping I have done.
Off to new romps I now be bound.

Guess the zoo in San Diego
Is not too well known for its snow.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Battle of the Bulb

C.F.L. versus L.E.D.
The battle of the bulb goes on.
Compact fluorescent lamp did be
Touted as good and dumped upon
Consumers who fell out of love.
A broken bulb meant toxic woe -
Clean up must do check list from gov.
Light emitting diode did show
A better eco friendly light,
But unfriendly to buyers cuz
The bulb prices were out of sight.
Oh for Edison days that was!

L.E.D.s now cheaper to burn.
So okay C.F.L.s - your turn.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Billy - LP Zoo

A pygmy hippopotamus,
I am guest at Lincoln Park Zoo.
'Twas thanks to Billy, most of us
Perform the service that we do.
From West Africa Billy came,
As gift to Coolidge, then the Prez,
Which caused Billy a lot of fame,
Fathered a bunch, history says,
From his National Zoo domain.
Guest at the '39 World's Fair,
A busy schedule did maintain,
Making his family affair.

Today I am happy to be
A part of Billy's legacy.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Fox Reports - LP Zoo

New Hampshire primary - '16,
The Bern and The Donald prevail.
This fox reporting on the scene,
To report hair raising detail.
Politics is a hairy thing.
Repubbies and Demmies do fight,
Itching to take scalps, debating -
Who's too far left, who's too far right.
The Donald's head fur in a wave,
Voiced hot air swept up in a spray.
The Bern's head fur just don't behave,
In place the white patches don't stay.

Prez prediction lock - premature.
Tiz hair fur a long time - fur sure.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Year of the Monkey - LP Zoo

Pied tamarins, we're from Brazil,
Hanging out at Lincoln Park Zoo.
We're the kind of monkey who will
Swing with whatever keepers do.
Tiz now the year twenty sixteen,
And Chinese year of the monkey.
Who really knows what that does mean?
But celebrating we do be
On February 8th - the start,
With decorations for the eye,
In colorful and festive art.
It humors humans - who cares why!

Such celebrations are so sweet -
Always something special to eat.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Heart Attack - LP Zoo

From the Lincoln Park Zoo, I got
A valentine made just for me.
This snow leopard is quick to spot
How kind of corny humans be
About a day to celebrate
That lovin' feeling mixed with mush.
Not that I don't appreciate
Most humans on me have a crush.
The valentine - I check it out,
Eyeing, sniffing, touching, tasting.
Around it I circle about.
Best get to it - times a wasting.

Thank you for the valentine heart.
Now watch me rip it all apart.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Weaver Woe - LP Zoo

Golden weaver - I am female
And stuck with just one male bird, who
Weaves a nest for me that does fail
My preferreds at Lincoln Park Zoo.
In the wild a female, I've heard,
Gets to choose the mate who is best
In the weaving craft of the bird
For what I do want in my nest.
The guy with whom I am here stuck
Is lousy in the way of weave.
The nest he weaves is just so yuck!
I should have better, I believe.

I've tweeted the Zoo to bring  me
More males, so more nest choices be.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Making Moves

This lobster lass knows tiz time to
Shuffle forth with and procreate.
Molting and losing my shell do
Mean that tiz time to do a mate.
The main male of the neighborhood
Is where us girls each take a turn
To let him know my go is good.
I pee on him to max his yearn.
The two of us shack up a while,
Getting it on a week or so.
I do rate him smooth on his style,
But when it counts, he's a no go.

On good sperm count this dude did fail -
Gotta go find another tail.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Black Howler Monkey - LP Zoo

A black howler monkey I be.
Only the adult male is black,
Yellowed buff are females like me.
Both sexes have a loud sound track.
I hang out at Lincoln Park Zoo,
Primate House - I am a primate.
Visit and you can hang out too.
And you can help me celebrate
The Year of the Monkey - Chinese.
You're not a monkey - that's okay,
Cuz we do share family trees.
I'll give you a pass - what the hey!

Year of the Monkey - hear me rhyme.
Tiz gonna be a howlin' time.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Allen's Swamp Monkey - LP Zoo

An Allen's swamp monkey I be.
Allen - some zoologist who
Got the privilege name tagging me.
Find the name at Lincoln Park Zoo.
My kind comes from the Congo where
In swampy forests we do live,
Where in the waters well we fare,
Webbed toes and fingers, edge to give,
To swim, to fish, to do wet stuff,
Then back to dwelling in the trees.
Gray/green fur gives cover enough
To fool what a predator sees.

At the Zoo - visit me and mine.
To this monkey, you'll take a shine.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Brain Snap

A large part of my human brain,
Hypothalmic attack region,
Triggers an urge to be insane
When perceived threats to me be done.
Like when I'm driving in my car,
And I am cut off suddenly.
Caveman kill'em instincts still are
Hardwired in and a part of me.
A softer hardwire if female,
But still I want the jerk to pay.
React more subtle might avail,
Revenge served cold, the better way.

I take down the jerk's license plate.
All in good time - this jerk of late.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Name Change Sealed - LP Zoo

I came to the Lincoln Park Zoo
At Sea Lion House as a guest.
I know that I'm a seal, I do,
So just in the wrong place, I guess.
But then I heard the humans say
Sea lions were once guests, no doubt,
But that they did not want to stay,
And kept finding ways to get out.
But Sea Lion House stayed that name,
Cuz of some human legal rule.
Rules can be broken - any game,
So soon 'twill be the new Seal Pool.

Here comes a keeper with my meal.
Room service here does seal the deal.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Cash Call

Tarantula found - humans say,
New species never found before,
And found near Folsom Prison way,
Where Johnny Cash had sang of yore.
And like the singer, I do hear,
That I am clad in classy black,
Natural for me to appear,
Not something I grabbed off the rack.
My new home is some human lab.
No more alone time to myself.
Humans just stare at me and gab.
I'm a speciman on the shelf.

So while I be stuck in this jar,
Guess I gotta get a guitar.