Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Flasha - LP Zoo

Hi, I'm Flasha, a Holstein cow
At Lincoln Park Farm in the Zoo.
I'm checking out if you've got chow.
I do love munching hay, I do.
The keepers keep good care of me.
My main job is to educate,
Making the hay into milk - gee,
A milk maker, I sure am great.
For several months, milk I can make,
But slowly I start to go dry.
A new calf born to me 'twill take
For remake in milk to apply.

But milk or no milk I must say
I still do love munching my hay.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Spring Bearing - LP Zoo

I am a black bear named Katai,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
I'm not a hybernating guy
Like my kind in the wild do do.
Out and about all winter long,
The Zoo is open ev'ry day,
So I am here where I belong
To bear my talents on display.
And now another spring has sprung.
New fresh and green is where it's at
To vitalize the old and young
When visiting my habitat.

Come visit me sometime this spring.
'Twill be a happy happening.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Queen of the Naked Mole Rats - LP Z00

I am the Queen, how do you do!
Queen of the naked mole rat clan,
At home in the Lincoln Park Zoo.
I can rule awesome, yes I can.
I needed to grow longer when
I did become the Queen, and so
My back bone spaces did open,
And as a result, I did grow.
My naked mole rat colony
Spend most of the time digging at
Making tunnels so there will be
Harmony in the habitat.

Being the Queen is a cool gig,
A role that I do really dig.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Twin Tragedy

Helsinki, two thousand and two,
A 70 year old man dead,
When hit by a truck smashing through
The bicycle which he did ride.
An hour later did occur
The very same type accident
On the exact same road for sure,
But dif'rent bike and truck event.
The accidents - a mile apart,
So very close in time and place.
Even more to sadden the heart
Were the two victims in this case.

The two victims did turn out to be
Twin brothers coincidentally.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

How Did Poe Know?

In 1884 'twas true,
After the Mignonette ship had sank,
Four sailors in a dingy through
A week, and survival looked dank.
The youngest with no family,
And Richard Parker was his name,
Was killed by the others to be
Letting the others live, for shame.
Four days later there was rescue
Of the three living sailors, and
Parker's part eaten body too,
Easy and hard to understand.

Edgar Allan Poe wrote this tale
Before it happened in detail.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

"Paws"itive - LP Zoo

The people watch me, yes the do,
When this polar bear takes a dip
In the pool at Lincoln Park Zoo,
Just a part of my showoffship.
While in the pool I do bear all.
I am not shy to be stared\at
Through the giant glass window wall,
Showing into my habitat.
Underwater to make a move,
I like to push off with my feet,
So  as to get in forward groove
In water movements, oh so sweet.

The glass is a great launch because
I push off when I hit the paws!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Little Brown Bat - LP Zoo

The little brown bat has been named
Official Mammal of City
Of Chicago - I feel so famed,
Now being a celebrity.
I do thank all the folks, I do,
For giving this honor to me.
My home is the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Congratulate me - here I be.
Since I am up mostly at night,
I don't mingle with folks too much.
When I do, I oft cause a fright -
Get a kick out of doing such.

The Official Mammal am I,
And the only one that can fly.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

African Cichlid - LP Zoo

African cichlid fish be found
As your African Journey ends,
While you are Lincoln Park Zoo bound,
And connecting with wildlife friends.
They be behind a great glass wall
In time and place, calm and serene,
Are cichlid fish - can't count them all,
There making a beautiful scene.
Colors, sizes, shapes do vary,
And make a dazzling display,
Having an effect quite merry
On visitors who choose to stay.

The cichlids are waiting for you
To pause and gaze on them - please do.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

African Penguin First - LP Zoo

Yes, the African penguins do
Have great reason to celebrate -
A new chick at Lincoln Park Zoo,
First such event and oh so great.
The proud parents behind the scenes
Are taking care of their new chick,
Both sharing in the ways and means
Of proper care to choose and pick.
The keepers keep a watchful eye
On the new little one's progress,
Not sure yet if a gal or guy,
But will be known in time - oh yes.

The chick will have a debut grand
Soon with this merry penguin band.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Skink Think - LP Zoo

A prehensile tailed skink I be.
A tree loving lizard I do
Love to be hanging in a tree
At home in the Lincoln Park Zoo.
In the Small Reptile House you'll find
Me watching from my habitat,
Watching all of you humankind.
People watching is where I'm at,
Somewhere amongst the leafy wood,
Watching as you all do go by.
I'm cared for well and life is good.
This here skink is one lucky guy.

When you come by, without a doubt,
I will be here just hanging out.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Get to Know Me - LP Zoo

Snakes do scare people, yes we do.
And so sometimes I am brought out
By keepers at Lincoln Park Zoo,
To show me less scary, no doubt.
The keeper keeps me held by hand
As the people do come on by,
Close encounter to understand -
Nothing scary for you and I.
And if you wish, you may touch me,
Connecting both of us so that
We share a time and place scare free
In a natural habitat.

I hope that very soon we'll meet.
I promise a non scary greet.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Walk on the Wild Side - LP Zoo

I do a walk outside I do.
The winter's giving way to spring,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
A walk is a wonderful thing.
Etana, the giraffe, I be
A peeking through the windows at
Where the human guests peek at me,
A walking in my habitat.
Of course I have to bend down some
To see the shorter humans there.
I smile as if to say, "Welcome"
"To time and place we all can share."

I am happy to bend some neck
To do a "howdy" - what the heck!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Play Pause - LP Zoo

Azizi here, taking a break
From playing mind games that I do.
Most of them are a piece of cake,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
For this gorilla guy I am
Great if I do say so myself.
Yeah - I am a bit of a ham,
But game playing - top of the shelf.
The object is to fast sequence
The stuff in the computer screen.
The truth be told the consequence,
I am the fastest on the scene.

Okay - it's time for me to go
Back to my awesomeness to show.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Duelly Noted

Alexander Hamilton and
Aaron Burr were fierce enemies.
Against the other each did stand,
Mutual hate in high degrees.
At first words were the only fight,
And neither would apologize.
What to do over such a slight -
A duel with honor as the prize.
Hamilton shot and hit a tree,
And Burr shot and hit Hamilton.
Hamilton died from injury,
And Burr declared the winning one.

Last fight 'tween Hamilton and Burr.
The loser really lost for sure.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Dateline 3 - LP Zoo

Talini and Siku are two
Busiest couple on the scene,
Dating at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
There's no dull moments 'twixt and 'tween.
These polar bears do love to meet
In the pool where the action's at,
Splishing and splashing - oh so sweet,
Sending vibes through the habitat.
In the pool be the time and place
Where visitors can get a peek
Of the couple close face to face,
Polar bear wooing, cheek to cheek.

Be sure to visit soon and see
What true romance can truly be.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Time to Tug - LP Zoo

The girls are playing tug-o-war.
They love such play, oh yes they do.
Through gritted teeth they both do roar
Their fun at the Lincoln Park  Zoo.
A piece of fabric is the prize,
Clasped firmly in the teeth of each.
They both do bite hard - no surprise,
Bite hard on all within their reach.
Around and round the girls do go,
Striving to best the other one.
For all those watching - quite a show.
The lionesses like their fun.

Come watch the lionesses play.
The Zoo is open ev'ry day.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Nap Flap - LP Zoo

From my nap I wake up, I do,
Rare for this\sloth to do day time,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Puzzled, I get the urge to climb,
Until I find a better spot
To once again resume my snooze.
I grab a vine I use a lot,
And to my renewed nap I cruise.
Since it is day and is not night,
I need to keep on my two toes,
So I make my transition right,
Until my destiny to doze.

Quite soon I'll nap, I have no doubt.
In the meantime, I'm tripping out.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Sudan

The northern white rhinoceros
Has lost the last known male, Sudan.
Upon him was put the onus
Of last chance reproduction plan.
But he was 45 years old,
And his health had begun to fail.
The desperate hope the world did hold
Was fragile in this rhino male.
Sudan was euthanized because
His quality of life had gone.
In memoriam some did pause,
All the harder to carry on.

On a ceremonial plaque -
A carrot, Sudan's fav'rite snack.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Monkey With - LP Zoo

A Diana monkey I be
At home in the Lincoln Park Zoo,
Front of the African Journey,
Look for me and I'll look for you.
Most likely I will be up high
In a tree top which I prefer
To watch each and all passersby.
I watch all visitors for sure.
And when I see you I just might
Perform special acrobatics,
Truly always an awesome sight.
You'll be amazed at all my tricks.

Come visit and see for yourself,
I am always top of the shelf,

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Dateline 2 - LP Zoo

Couple, Talini and Siku,
Unbearably cute polar bears,
At home in the Lincoln Park Zoo,
Tender moments the couple share,
With all the human fans around,
Oohing and aahing this love that
This polar bear couple has found,
Spreading throughout the habitat.
For polar bears tiz the season
To come together during spring,
Future family the reason,
Here's hoping that in time will bring.

Come visit the Zoo and be part
Of polar bearing from the heart.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Turtle Journey - LP Zoo

I do a journey, yes I do.
This ornate box turtle do it,
Starting off at Lincoln Park Zoo,
Just newly hatched until I'm fit.
With other hatchlings I am raised
Behind the scenes with keepers' care,
The keepers efforts to be praised
To get me ready for out there.
The Illinois prairie I go
To replenish my threatened kind,
Example to turtlely show
How good conservation can bind.

A radio is on my shell
For all my life story to tell.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Iwaki is 2 - LP Zoo

I am Iwaki, just turned two
Years old, this cute girl snow monkey
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Happy Birthday for Mom and me.
We're celebrating fun stuff that
The keepers knew we would enjoy,
Presented through the habitat.
We share with all - even a boy!
I am the oldest of the young
That live in our neighborhood,
An example to set among
The younger to grow being good.

A good girl - am I always so?
When I am not - Mom lets me know!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Meerkats Go Irish - LP Zoo

Saint Patrick's Day, twenty eighteen,
The meerkats celebrate, they do,
Having enrichment in the green,
At home in the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Goodies are hidden in a hat,
Enticing the meerkats to be
Curious in their habitat.
What's in this hat of green - let's see!
Of course the meerkats do check out,
And pick and poke until they find
The pot o' goody gold, no doubt
For meerkat tummies to be lined.

The meerkats be getting it on
In the hat of a leprechaun.

Sense Sonnet -Pumper

On Assignment -  LP Zoo

This is Aje reporting from
A penguin encounter I'm at,
Where humans up close are welcome
Into my penguin habitat.
The keepers do assist me in
Educating the humans so
They have a better discipline
In getting to know what I know.
Helping humans to understand
Is quite a challenge, yes it is,
Never going quite as I planned,
Always ups and downs in show biz.

A difficult task but I do
My duty at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Sahar with Friend - LP Zoo

Hi little girl, I am Sahar.
Welcome to the Lincoln Park Zoo,
A time and place here we both are.
We do connect, oh yes we do!
Though a boy lion I do be
And you a girl human, we will
Both make a special memory
That such connection can instill.
The two of us come face to face,
So close for the good vibes to pass
'Twixt and 'tween in this time and place,
Separated only by glass.

I am so glad that you stopped by
For a connection - you and I.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Getting Serious - LP Zoo

Cute pair Talini and Siku!
The polar bear couple be seen
At home in the Lincoln Park Zoo,
A very personable team!
Siku - he is romancing her,
Hoping Talini does respond
To his wooing efforts for sure
Resulting in a lasting bond.
For polar bears the time is here
During the season months of spring
To hope that Cupid does appear
With new baby news that can bring.

Here's hoping this couple will choose
In time to polar bear good news.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Adapt to Winter- LP Zoo

Winter at the Lincoln Park Zoo
Brings lots of cold and ice and snow.
So what do the animals do?
All pick and choose to come and go.
Heated rocks the lions can share,
South African penguins as well.
Such rocks - the polar bears don't care.
Rhinos play in snow a short spell.
In hot springs, snow monkeys can soak.
The wolves can shelter from the wind.
The camels enhanced fur does cloak
Against the brrr winter does send.

In winter time there always be
Animals out for you to see.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

First Date 2018 - LP Zoo

For the first time in public view,
Talini and Siku do meet -
A first date at Lincoln Park Zoo,
How sweet it is, it is so sweet.
The couple dip into the pool,
And splish and splash about in fun,
A cute couple and oh so cool,
May Cupid's work be getting done!
At age 14 Talini is
Some years older than Siku be,
But in polar bear romance biz,
Age matters less than chemistry.

This first date seems to have gone well.
A perfect match made? - time will tell!