Sense Sonnet - Pumper

R-E-S-P-E-C-T- LP Zoo

Good manners are important to
Gorillas and humans who face
Each other at Lincoln Park Zoo
In a one on one, case by case.
This gorilla has noticed that
Most humans tend to like to stare
Right at me in my habitat.
So here's a hint I'd like to share.
Let's look at each other a bit,
And then let us each look away.
Cuz staring too long does commit
A no no bad mannered display.

Spelled R-E-S-P-E-C-T-
And we'll get along, you and me.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Urine the Money

The ancient Romans had to pay
A tax upon the urine flow.
Fast forward to the modern day,
Politicians will make it so.
A urine user fee will be
Assessed per person based upon
A metered chip in each body,
Measuring each phenomenon.
Of personal urine flushed to
The sewer of public domain,
Limitless source of revenue -
Call it a toilet gravy train.

We the People do pee, so yes -
An outcome tax by IRS!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Volunteer Appreciation - LP Zoo

The keepers said to me, "Pavel,"
"There's something we need you to do."
"Human volunteers you know well,"
"It's their week at Lincoln Park Zoo."
"Please tiger on out in support"
"Of some volunteers standing by,"
"And for a few minutes hold court"
"For some pictures, so don't be shy."
I headed to my window where
I was was drawn by a fav'rite scent,
The keepers used to get me there.
They know I do love peppermint.

Behind the volunteers in pix,
I can be seen in shadowed licks

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Chimp Watch - LP Zoo

We chimps at the Lincoln Park Zoo
Are used to humans watching us.
Some humans we know well, we do,
Keeping track of us without fuss.
Whether eating, napping, playing
Or just doing nothing at all,
We chimps are under surveying
By humans computing on call.
We know how nosy humans be,
So humoring humans is just
The way that we chimps do agree
Keeps the humans happy, we trust.

The humans here give us good care,
So we have data we can share.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Big Battle

It be a battle of the big.
The baobab tree does stand tall.
Thousands of years old since a twig.
Not much on Earth could make it fall.
But then the elephant comes by,
Thirsty for all the water in
The baobab (for drought that's why.)
So the elephant does begin
To strip the bark and gouge a hole,
Beating the pulp out of the tree,
Gulping all water as the goal.
Oh such beastly ferocity!

The battle of behemoth hunks,
Both be wearing extra large trunks.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Fairy Bluebird - LP Zoo

A fairy bluebird, I enchant
Human visitors, yes I do.
From Asia, I am a transplant,
A guest at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
A deep rich blue my plumage be,
Quite iridescent in the sun.
Black pupil in red eye I see
You seeing me - each one on one.
A fig is favorite to eat.
Using my bill I do ingest
In bites to swallow down so sweet.
I am figaholic - no jest.

Listen for my call, I'll do it -
A two note that sounds like "glue it."

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Scoop on Humans - LP Zoo

Snow monkeys - Mom and 3 week old
Are watching from their habitat.
They are humans, the babe is told
By Mom, as both keep staring at
These beings of all shape and size.
But Mom assures here babe that here
Humans are harmless otherwise,
And there be no reason to fear.
When human watching is a yearn,
Any and all snow monkeys do
Come to the window for a turn,
Taking in the Lincoln Park Zoo.

The snow monkeys watch humans till
After a while they've had their fill.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Father of Taxonomy

Carl Linnaeus, taxonomist,
Back in the 18th century,
Turned living things into a list,
And named each that he knew to be.
Most got a two word Latin name,
The genus first, then species next.
There still exists Carl's naming game,
With millions named in like context.
Some names make sense and some do not,
Depending on the state of mind
Of the namer who wins the spot
For what and why a name's assigned.

"Homo sapiens" Carl did do.
Tiz Latin for "wise man" - who knew!

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Chat n Chew - LP Zoo

The one year old gorilla girl,
Bella, is talking up a storm.
Her chattering is all awhirl,
But for Bella this be the norm.
Momma is listening nearby,
Keeping Bella in sight and sound.
Bella's mouth crammed with food - that's why
Bella's messy mumbles abound.
But Momma does not seem to mind,
The way that human mommas do.
Manners are of a dif'rent kind
For Bella at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Yes, Bella has a bunch to say,
Mouth full of food, but that's okay.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Paws to Bird Watch - LP Zoo

I love to watch the birds I do,
A hobby of this lioness,
Hanging out at Lincoln Park Zoo.
It's so much easier than chess.
The humans soap my window so
Migratory birds will beware
Of smacking glass while on the go,
With frequent fly miles in the air.
The gulls are back with warmer clime,
Pestering humans for some food,
Always an entertaining time,
Watching the humans be pursued.

Of course if birds should land near me,
A pursuit of my own could be.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

M&Ms

The Mars and Murrie families
Teamed together to make candy
Called M&Ms for product ease,
With a motto that was handy -
"Melts in your mouth, not in your hand."
The year was 1941.
World War II soldiers liked the brand
That would not first melt in the sun.
The chocolate in candy shell,
Each button sized with "m" imprint,
Came in a hand held tube sealed well,
Couple of handfulls in content.

First ads for soldiers - he and she.
M&M  - match making might be.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Aruba Island Rattlesnake - LP Zoo

A handsome reptile I do be,
Aruba Island  rattlesnake.
At the Lincoln Park Zoo find me,
The Reptile House where home I make.
Home for us in Aruba is
Causing us to be just a few,
Cuz of the human tourist biz.
We're getting scaled down bad - so true!
Just a few hundred rattle round
A getting smaller habitat.
So many humans be beach bound,
We're being bulldozed over flat.

I be in the Zoo to remind
We need your help to save my kind.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Patty Duke

She was born Anna Marie Duke.
A talented child, she began
A career that was not a fluke,
But her life - her managers ran.
"Patty" forced upon her as name.
In the role on the stage and screen
As Helen Keller she took fame.
"The Patty Duke Show" - two role teen.
Her managers made her appear
As Patty Duke celebrity,
At the funeral of one dear -
Her father, who she'd rarely see.

In public she could play the part.
In private she was sad of heart.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Butt Beat

Born to become a moth one day,
This caterpillar somehow knew
Birch leaf haven would be the way
That I could be safe while I grew.
But I had to spin a cocoon
Into the leaf from silk I'd spin.
Better with numbers to commune,
I needed to get some help in.
And so I sent out an appeal
For would be roomies to crawl by.
I thumped my butt hairs - yep for real!
And I got loads of good reply.

Not what you'd call high tech, no doubt!
But butt mail gets the message out.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Mayflies Arise

Millions arise from waters where
Born in the way of nature's plan,
The mass moves upward in the air,
Together search in swirling span
Of light be natural or not,
Drawn to the source instinctively,
In totalness of what be sought.
Whatever reason such might be,
The sound and sight of all awing,
Is sensed by any passerby,
Pausing to ponder such a thing,
That briefly lives and then will die.

The swarm of mayflies fly as may,
The lives do last but just one day.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Palawan Peacock-Pheasant - LP Zoo

A Palawan peacock pheasant,
I reside in Lincoln Park Zoo.
To the eye I am most pleasant.
Showing off for the girls I do,
Strutting in plumage colored bright,
I woo with a display of zest,
Full of assorted sound and sight.
In seeking love, I'm at my best.
The Phillipine Palawan Isle,
The only place my kind live wild.
Visit me at the Zoo and I'll
Catch your eye and you'll be beguiled.

In the Bird House is where I be,
Tropical Forest - you'll find me.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Jesper

I am Jesper, the "skiing cat."
My human skis - I run beside.
It makes my human happy that
I'm there her while she does glide.
30 miles per hour I can
Trot through the snow and keep up pace.
So many miles this puss has ran.
Who knows why humans like to race.
But there are benefits for me.
My human gives me love and care.
I do hitch skis when tired I be,
Upon my human's shoulder there.

Famous now for my trips in snow,
A puss in no boots on the go.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Brian Spider

The Brian spider has been "found"
In land down under water way.
Named for a physics dude around
The waves phenomenon - okay!
The Brian waits on water for
A wave vibration waving by,
Signalling there's a snack to score.
Quick long legs guarantee supply,
Grabbing quarry three times its size -
An insect, a fish, a tad pole.
Feeling the waves, it can surmise
The worthiness of feeding role.

Human "finders" just have to rave
About the Brian on a wave.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Sam Cardinella

Sam Cardinella was to hang
In Chicago for murders done.
The April '21 time rang,
As hour spring forward had run
For daylight saving time, so Sam
Convinced the jailers to postpone
For one hour his life to damn,
Walking the dead man walking zone.
Hour later, Sam would not walk.
Jailers carried Sam in a chair.
Both Sam and chair dropped like a rock,
Hanging, Sam's time had run out there.

Sam would have hanged sooner for crime,
If fall back daylight saving time!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Easter Bunny and Egg

Thanks to pagans, Easter became
About eggs that bunnies would bring
For children in a hunting game
To celebrate rebirth of Spring.
The eggs are multi colored bright,
Sometimes in baskets, sometimes not,
Some are in view, some out of sight -
A prize for each and any tot.
The bunny and the egg do be
Pagan symbols from long ago
Symbolizing fertility,
Now Easter custom - doncha know!

Science deems it kind of funny -
An egg laying Easter bunny.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Two to Nap

Always time at Lincoln Park Zoo
To take a break from daily rush.
Two gorillas take time to do
Less of motion and more of hush.
All curled up in a pile of straw,
The two gorillas snuggle close.
Human guests do watch and say, "Aah,"
At such a sight that does engross
A sense that all about is well
Within this special time and place,
When and where gorillas do dwell,
Sharing with us amazing grace.

Two gorillas taking a rest,
Dad and daughter nap at their best.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Lick the Flick

Sister gorilla girls at play,
Exploring all their habitat.
Where there's a will, there is a way.
Lincoln Park Zoo is where it's at.
In a far window tucked up high,
The girls see humans way up there.
Where there's humans there's treats - so why
Not check it out, and both do dare.
But then the humans disappear,
Leaving a picture taking thing.
Maybe some treats are somewhere near,
Both gorilla girls be thinking.

While the camera took some pix,
Gorilla girls got in some licks.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Swing into Spring

In the early hours of morn,
Of March time at Lincoln Park Zoo,
A snow monkey baby be born,
Springing to bring forth fresh and new.
Proud Momma brings her babe outside
To give the world a first time peek
At the bundle of joy and pride,
A special bond that be unique.
The human visitors pass by,
Drawn by the lure a babe does bring,
The "oohs" and "aahs" that all do sigh
At such a blessed happening.

Come wish the new born babe your best,
And "ooh" and "aah" with all the rest.

Sense Sonnet -Tickler

O'Meerkats - LP Zoo

We meerkats came to see what's new,
Something to eat, something to play,
Never boring - Lincoln Park Zoo,
Especially St. Paddy's Day.
A green shamrock top hat we find.
Inside a tasty treat to lick.
We are not Irish - we don't mind.
Humans are full of treat and trick.
And so we join in on the show.
Humoring humans - we do best.
All eyes are smilin' - doncha know!
Cuz we are just so full of zest.

We make any phenomenon -
Even a meerkat leprechaun.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Maku is 30 - LP Zoo

Happy Birthday to you, Maku.
Turning 30 is a big deal.
Most years spent at Lincoln Park Zoo.
You are full of rhino appeal.
We humans want to celebrate
With a banner and other stuff,
Such an important milestone date,
A birthday card is not enough.
For such a super special guy,
Instead of making you a cake,
We hosed dirt into a mud pie,
Ready for you a roll to take.

So on this day that you were born,
Cheers Maku, and blow your own horn.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Pink Hunter

I have never hunted before,
Becuz blaze orange is not my style.
It cries out Halloween galore,
And freaks my feminine profile.
But now I hear 'twill be blaze pink
As a legal alternative,
So I am gonna hunt, I think,
And dressed in gear I'm sure will give
New meaning to my fashion flair.
Holding weapon in pink gloved hand,
All beasts with eyes will surely stare,
And deem me best dressed in the land.

I like the pink cuz it looks hot,
And I'll look hot in case I'm shot.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Cut Short

Tiz said when Napoleon died,
A doc cut off his penis, and
Kept it as souvenir of pride.
Through time it passed from hand to hand,
Often placed on public display.
The wear and tear did take a toll.
Much of it did shrivel away,
Small in popularity poll.
Finally a urologist
From the U.S. acquired the thing,
In peace and quiet to exist,
Notwithstanding its severing.

Now in New Jersey wherefore art
Thee Napoleon bone apart!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

The Egg and I Hop

Easter at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Human kiddies are hunting eggs.
Full of young excitement, they do
Be a blur of wee arms and legs.
I be a bunny, yes I be
A Flemish giant, biggest kind.
And so the kiddies regard me
The Easter bunny - I don't mind.
Cuz from Europe my kind do hail,
And that was where it all did start
About the Easter bunny tale,
With eggs to warm the young at heart.

I do enjoy the Easter day.
But as for eggs - I do not lay.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Fox Nap

A fennec fox ambassador
From the Sahara desert land,
I am busy 'twixt and 'tween snore,
Taking my day naps in the sand.
So humans can get a quick peek
On how my kind spend most of day.
In day we snooze, in night we seek
Food items from small rodent prey.
But even while asleep, I hear
All that is going on around,
Cuz I do have a super ear,
Ever alert for any sound.

If I'm napping when you come by,
I will hear you when you say, "Hi."

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Color Me Blue

This caveman noticed that my kind,
In decorating home cave walls,
Had no blue or plant art designed,
And so I heard "do it first" calls.
So blueberry picking I chose,
And squashed the berries into paint,
Then painted blueberries in rows
On my cave walls with no restraint.
My buddies did not like my art,
Said never to do it again.
Such bad mouth really broke my heart,
And so I made my cave cave in.

Blueberry paint and paintings - true!
I call this period of mine - blue!