Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Rider Tall Tale

Buffalo Bill was known to tell
A tall tale about the wild west.
As a showman he sought to sell
His exploits as the very best.
Often he told of when he rode
Bravely for the Pony Express
Through dangers with the pouched mail load
Getting the precious mail through - yes!
He told this in his Wild West Show
Being a Pony Express star,
Making the Pony Express glow,
As he portrayed the legend far.

Buffalo Bill never did ride
For the Pony Express - he lied.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Tiny Tongued T Rex

In movies, T Rex often does
Show a long tongue that's sticking out
Now researchers say no, becuz
T Rex's tongue was short, no doubt,
Due to a quite short hyoid bone,
Fossils of which researchers found,
Which means the tongue's in the short zone,
Unable to be stuck out bound.
So if in a movie you see
T Rex sticking out a tongue long,
You can announce to all that be
According to researchers -wrong!

Discovery worthy of brag?
Yes, the researchers tongues do wag.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

"Air"or

On May 15, 1918,
The first U.S. airmail did fly.
Washington, D.C. - take off scene
To land in New York, by and by.
President Wilson shook the hand
Of Lieutenant George Boyle, to be
The pilot of the small plane, and
Then Boyle took off to history.
Unfortunately, Boyle got lost
After an hour  flying forth.
Somehow he got directions crossed,
And did fly South instead of North.

He crash landed with the airmail.
This first delivery did fail.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Bee Abuzz - LP Zoo

At the Farm in Lincoln Park Zoo,
We honeybees are all abuzz,
Doing the good work that we do.
We buzz about the Farm becuz
We are pollinators in chief,
Spreading the pollen through the plants,
Little time for rest or relief,
Doing the pollinating dance.
The main barn hives are our home.
Thousands of us do come and go.
Each day for many miles we roam.
We're always busy, doncha know!

Come visit us and you will see
The awesome crowd that we do bee!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Aje is On - LP Zoo

I am Aje and I can be
Close encounters of a bird kind.
Humans get the chance to meet me.
This penguin really does not mind.
Twice a day at Lincoln Park Zoo
Humans buy a ticket and come
And sit and watch us penguins do
The "oohs" and "aahs" of penguindom.
No penguin is forced to appear.
Each penguin chooses yes or no.
Most often I do volunteer,
And I put on an awesome show.

An encounter not to be missed,
Put penguins on your bucket list.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Kept Awake

The drip, drip, drip kept him awake,
A scientist decided to
Find why a water drop does make
The "plink" sound that it seems to do.
The water droplet needs to land
In water for  the "plink" to sound.
An air bubble does result, and
In its oscillating, there's bound
To be a water vibration,
That does make the iconic tone -
A "plinking" sound generation,
The annoying sound so well known.

Why does a water drop sound "plink?"
A kept awake mind starts to think.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Phoenix Turns 7 - LP Zoo

I am Phoenix, how do you do!
This red panda just turned seven,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
And so I'm in seventh heaven,
Living the good life with my mate,
Leafa, who is a special gal,
And being with her has been great.
She always keeps up my morale.
So far we've had four little ones,
Now grown up and off on their own.
We're working on the next home run,
While enjoying a time out zone.

Most of the time you can see me
Taking a nap up in a tree.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Storm Train - LP Zoo

Come  watch me train, my name is Storm.
I do train ev'ry day, I do,
To assure I am in good form,
Here a home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Mostly a harbor seal like me
Is in the water swimming, so
Good range of motion needs to be,
For maneuvering to and fro.
I need to make turns quick and tight,
And avoid bumping into stuff,
Go up, go down, go left, go right,
Underwater turns can be tough.

So I don't mind the training test.
The keepers keep me at my best.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

He's Pregnant!

The seahorse fish are quite unique.
The male becomes the pregnant one,
When the duo's courtship hits peak,
And deposit of eggs is done.
The male has a pouch on his tail.
He puts the eggs therein from her,
The eggs then carried by the male,
And he does care for them for sure.
When the eggs hatch, he lets them go,
Could be thousands, into the sea.
Next day when the female does show,
Begins the next courtship to be.

There is no doubt the male seahorse,
Yes, is a "Super Dad" of course.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

White Faced Saki Monkey - LP Zoo

A white faced Saki monkey - yes
I do be white faced, yes I do.
Males are more white faced, females less.
I'm Petey at Lincoln Park Zoo,
Currently hoping for a she.
With other animals I share
Space, but still lonely I do be.
My keepers do give me great care.
I like to hang out in the trees.
Often from limb to limb I leap,
Using my arms and legs with ease
For each appointment I do keep.

Come visit me in my shared space.
I'm the one with the whitest face.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Monday Yawn - LP Zoo

Monday at the Lincoln Park Zoo,
This lioness is on the job.
It does get boring, yes it do,
And so of course I yawn a gob.
I know my job is to be seen.
Humans get a kick out of that.
As to that I am peachy keen,
As I pose from my habitat.
Various poses I do make,
Sometimes in motion, sometimes still,
Sometimes asleep, sometimes awake,
Monday is a long day to fill.

No doubt a sure phenomenon,
Throughout Monday I'm gonna yawn.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Cheese Chase

Gloucester, England, on Cooper's Hill,
Big wheels of Gloucester cheese do roll.
Contestants chase, trying their skill,
To catch a cheese wheel is the goal.
Very few wheels of cheese are caught.
The hill is very steep, and so
Contestants injuries - a lot.
But tiz the challenge, doncha know!
An annual event, ev'ry spring,
The first in 1826.
Who woulda thunk there's such a thing
Some people do to get their kicks!

Why do this is easily solved.
Lots of alcohol is involved.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

"Earie" Tale

In a fit of madness, Van Gogh
Cut off his ear so the tale "Goghs."
Then to a prostitute did show
The severed ear in bloody pose.
Truly, Van Gogh did later paint
The "Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear,"
A selfie done with self restraint,
No pain or anguish does appear.
A Paul Gauguin, a Van Gogh "friend,"
In letters by both 'twixt and 'tween
Makes a good case that the ear's end
Resulted from an assault scene.

Theory is both made up the tale
To keep Paul Gauguin our of jail.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

A First Theory

Americas - The South, the North -
Who were the first humans to be?
Many theories do be set forth -
The how and when of this journey.
Some say from East, some say from West.
Some say humans were always here.
Any theory is hard to test
On when humans did first appear.
The theory that makes the most sense -
Traveling are a man and wife.
The man gets them both lost, and hence
Americas - first human life.

A man just never does seem to learn.
His wife told him he'd made a wrong turn.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Gimme a Chance - LP Zoo

This meerkat sees a little boy
Who's visiting my habitat.
He's got a stuffed animal toy,
That is certainly no meerkat.
I am hoping this boy maybe
Will toss his toy over my way.
Then he'll be able to watch me
Give it some bite, some claw, some spray.
Of course my keepers keep an eye
Out for this kind of circumstance.
This spoils my fun - I don't know why.
I still look forward to the chance.

I take advantage, yes I do,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Cast Offed

Actress, Jean Hagan, played the role
Of Danny Thomas' T.V. wife.
Family sitcom was the goal,
But 'tween Hagan and Thomas - strife.
So she left "Make Room for Daddy,"
Leaving Thomas in a cast bind.
A 50's divorce - a baddie,
Another option was designed.
The wife and mother sadly "died."
Not much more about it was said.
Hagan's many fans no doubt cried
Over the shock that she was "dead."

First in a family sitcom -
Character kill off and 'twas Mom!

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Bad Move

While working in the yard I found
A four foot long fat rattlesnake.
Taking a shovel, I was bound
To kill the snake for safety sake,
With that deadly venom, so hey,
With that sharp shovel I did slice
Off the snake's head and tossed away
The snake's body real quick and nice.
And then I turned my attention
To the snake head - so still it be,
Reached for it - wish I had not done,
Cuz the damn head lunged and bit me.

Beware if you choose to behead,
Cuz like me you may turn up dead.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Smokey Bear

Badly burned in a forest fire
In 1950, the young  bear
Was rescued, and this did inspire
Preventing forest fires need care.
Smokey Bear, bearer of the name,
Did live in the National Zoo,
Where he did gather so much fame,
He needed his own zip code - true!
1976, he died,
Was buried in New Mexico
In Smokey Bear Park right beside
Where he'd been found those years ago.

Smokey Bear - he will always be
A reminder for you and me.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Sisterly Spat - LP Zoo

Two lynx sisters but just one bowl
Of snacks for both to snack upon.
Sibling rivalry plays a role
In the me first phenomenon.
They both do circle round and round,
Each one the other to check out,
And neither to give any ground.
Each tries to guess the other's route.
One of the sisters finally
Does stake the bowl out as her own,
And in no mood to share it, she
Makes her meism clearly known.

Sisters do squabble, sisters do
Even at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Taza, the Spotful - LP Zoo

Taza, the snow leopard, I do
Like to watch what is going on
Around me at Lincoln Park Zoo,
An ongoing phenomenon.
I watch the lynx sisters next door.
I watch the squirrels and rabbits run.
I watch the birds through the air soar.
I watch the humans - always fun.
Humans make me chuckle a bunch,
All color, shape and size they are,
Happy at the Zoo is my hunch,
Notwithstanding they be bizarre.

Better be watchful than be not.
I never know what I may spot.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Roost Boost - LP Zoo

At the Farm in Lincoln Park Zoo
A brand new chicken coop is here.
Chickens are checking out what's new,
And can be heard the clucking cheer.
A renovated yard also,
Giving the chickens lots of space,
Either to chill out or go go,
Depending on each chicken's pace.
Visitors are welcome to come
And watch the chickens as they roam
The four corners of chickendom,
Getting comfy in their new home.

Because of this great new abode,
No chicken needs to cross the road.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Replacement

A man is driving down the street,
Kills a cat accidentally.
At a nearby house he does meet
A woman, the cat's owner be.
The man tells the woman he's so
Sorry what happened to her cat,
And just wanted to let her know
It was an accident, but that
He would be willing to replace
The cat for the woman that day.
The woman thought over the case,
And to the man had this to say,

"Your offer does sound very nice,"
"But how are you at catching mice?"

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Lordy - Buckle Up!

A preacher was driving his car
Down a country road late at night,
Driving badly and quite bizarre,
He came into a farmer's sight.
The preacher drove into a fence.
The farmer went up to the wreck,
Fearing the worst of consequence.
The preacher did a body check,
"The Lord was with me, I'm okay,"
The preacher told the farmer, who
Shook his head and had this to say,
With the good Lord's safety in view,

"You better let him ride with me,"
"Cuz riding with you - dead he'll be."

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Turtlely Ready - LP Zoo

In training at Lincoln Park Zoo,
This turtle's getting lean and mean.
I am getting ready to do
Run for the Zoo, twenty eighteen.
I know the odds are against me
Being able to win the race.
Nevertheless, I plan to be
Doing my best to win first place.
The Aesop's fable did prove that
In a race a turtle can win,
And as I plan to be first at
The race's end that I begin.

I'm sure that I can get it on.
Come check out this phenomenon.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

"Open Wide" - LP Zoo

"Do open wide and do say 'aah',"
Talini does say to Siku.
So Siku opens wide his jaw,
As guests watch at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Talini looks down Siku's throat,
But there is no fish bone in sight,
Just bad breath Talini does note,
And careful to avoid a bite.
She tells him that his throat is clear.
Whatever was stuck is now gone.
To guests this check out does appear
To be a strange phenomenon.

But really just a show of care
That's 'twixt and 'tween each polar bear.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

World Parrot Day '18 - LP Zoo

May 31st, twenty eighteen,
Parrots do celebrate, they do,
World Parrot Day. Making the scene
Are parrots at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Two Puerto Rican parrots eat
Party mix on their special day,
Thanking the keepers for the treat,
As parrots do in their own way,
By squawking in between each bite
About how this is just so great,
And both parrots do sure delight
Being able to celebrate.

The humans watch the parrot pair
Party hearty in feathered flair.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Piglets Explore - LP Zoo

At the Farm in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Eight little piglets just days old
Busily check out their world new,
With all the wonders to behold.
What's over here, what's over there?
They all of course must check it out,
Making new memories to share,
In it together, snout to snout.
But the piglets know not to stray
Too far from Mom because she's got
The connection to make them stay
Close for her milk they like a lot.

The piglets do not seem to mind,
Stared at by all the humankind.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Li'l Red - LP Zoo

Hi, I'm Li'l Red, how do you do!
I am a Shetland pony at
The Farm in the Lincoln Park Zoo,
So welcome to my habitat -
In the li'l red barn and pasture.
My roomies are a pinto pair,
And we share a good life for sure.
The keepers give us all great care.
I'm the oldest at age 18,
And keep the other boys in line,
Cuz I'm a responsible teen,
And we all get along just fine.

My welcome mat is always spread
At the Farm, just ask for Li'l Red.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Flora and Fauna - LP Zoo

So many plants do grow, they do,
To share with animals the space
All around the Lincoln Park Zoo,
Making the Zoo a wondrous place.
Many animals do eat plants.
If near these animals, plants grow,
Then there is a very good chance
Animals munch and plants do go.
So often, keepers make the rounds
To pick the plants that will become
Animal munchies from the grounds.
Plants for the animals are yum!

For some animals, some plants are
A good source for a salad bar.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Eight Lil' Piggies - LP Zoo

New born piglets in an eight pack
At the Farm in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Six females and two males on track
For "oohs' and "aahs" from all guests - true!
American guinea hogs be
Mostly black and a smaller breed,
So the piglets are quite tiny -
Wee bundles of pure cute indeed!
Mom for the first time is a Mom,
But doing well in Mom duties,
Seeming to be remaining calm,
Serving to eight nursing cuties.

Come visit the piglets, please do -
Swined, squealed and delivered for you.