Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Yosemite Toads

Yosemite toads mate like mad
For two weeks only in late spring,
Where California pools be had,
Deemed suitable for toad offspring.
The toads are quite insistent that
Precise specifications be
Right in their breeding habitat.
This applies to both he and she.
The pool must have the right depth and
Must have the right temperature.
All of this is carefully scanned
Before the breed deed's done, for sure.

These toads are an endangered kind.
Perfect pools are harder to find.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

White House Killer

William Harrison and James Polk
And Zachary Taylor all died.
Killer in the White House? - no joke!
An outside killer got inside,
And made these three Presidents ill.
Water pumped from a tainted spring
Carried  nasty germs that could kill,
Once in the body infecting.
Susceptible, these Presidents
Were thought to have gastric disease.
No one knew of the evidence
Of water in lethal degrees.

In time the tainted spring was gone,
And life in the White House went on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Visayan Warty Pig

A Visayan warty pig, I
Am ready for mating season,
Sporting a mane of hair, this guy,
Grown just for the gals, the reason.
The mane of hair's grown on my back,
So I'll be better able to
Keep my honed mating skills on track.
I have lots of flirting to do.
My namesake warts upon my face
Will help protect me when I fight
Other males for a better place
For females to keep me in sight.

Tiz the season - females do gawk
At me and my rock star mohawk.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Chicago - Twinkie

The snack cake, Twinkie, came to be
When a baker in Chicago
Thought of it in 1930,
Named for a shoe brand, doncha know!
Banana creme was used as fill
Till bananas were rationed in
World War II, but creme was used still -
Vanilla flavored did begin.
Now both creme flavors can be found
On store shelves, and so long said with
An infinite shelf life be bound -
Of course that's just an urban myth.

The Twinkie does go on and on,
A popular culture icon.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Whale Ears

When underwater hearing sound,
The ears of a whale are made so
Inside the head both "float around,"
Each tuning in to the sound flow,
Which comes in through  the whale's jaw fat,
And is transmitted to each ear.
Each ear can then determine that
Independently what to hear.
Each ear transmits to the whole brain,
To be determined by the whale
The meaning that the sounds contain,
And then react to such detail.

Whale ears are modified to be
Successful hearers undersea.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

A Peek at a Black Hole

A black hole has at last been seen
By telescope in an array,
A picture compiled that does mean
It is, even though far away,
In the Virgo constellation.
M87 is its name,
Billions times bigger than the sun.
The hole is black as was the claim.
All that come close, apparently,
Is swallowed up into the hole.
No one knows why it came to be,
Or what will be its future role.

So far as concerns us on Earth,
No black hole's near for what its worth.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Spring Break - LP Zoo

Flamingos go to school, we do,
To learn all about this and that,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Daily in our habitat.
I dream of heading for the beach
In Florida where parties be,
Away from all the boring teach,
Where I can just be loose and free.
Right now my brain just needs a rest
From all the stuff that I must learn.
After I pass my mid term test,
A time to relax I do yearn.

It's about all that I can take.
C'mon Zoo - gimme a Spring break!

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Notre Dame Burns

Notre Dame de Paris, the name
Of a gothic cathedral known
As a Catholic site of fame,
12th century beginnings grown,
Completed o'er 300 years.
Standing upon an island grand
In central Paris it appears,
A home of faith to ever stand
Through all that happens 'twixt and 'tween.
Badly damaged by tragedy
Due to fire in twenty nineteen,
To rise again the hopes do be.

World wide sadness watching the spire
Collapse from the consuming fire.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Peru - LP Zoo

The La Mancha goat named Peru
Has long been a familiar sight
At the Farm in Lincoln Park Zoo,
And did provide so much delight.
A golden brown with those short ears,
Peru was easily picked out
From the others for many years,
And folks were drawn to him, no doubt.
Most time Peru was glad to let
Folks approach and pet and say, "Hi."
But once in a while he would get
In a "don't mess with this here guy."

We're sad Peru has passed away,
And gone to goat heaven to play.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Work at Play - LP Zoo

This otter has a job to do.
It is a job where I do play
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
I do this job every day.
Most of the time I can be seen
In playful swim within my pool,
As I maneuver 'twixt and 'tween
The rocks and limbs and look so cool!
I leave my pool once in a while,
And go look for a snack to eat.
Finding a yummy, I do smile,
Then back to play - lots to complete.

My job at play is never done,
So I am glad my job is fun.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

Woe not Begone

Prosopis juliflora is
A type of mesquite shrub brought to
Africa in well meaning biz
To help the farmers better do
Producing food and saving soil.
This mesquite did bring good but bad,
Causing the farmers troubled toil,
Slurping up water that be had,
And crowding other plant food out,
While not a real good food source be,
Making life harder all about.
Farmers call it the "devil tree."

An invasion not seen before,
This mesquite's spreading more and more.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

And in this Corner...

A ringside seat is hard to get
For this daily desert fight bout.
A sidewinder rattlesnake's set,
A kangaroo rat hops about.
And when the rat hops close enough,
The snake lunges in an attack.
The rat must quickly show its stuff,
Using its hind legs to kick back.
Sometimes the snake does bite the rat,
And the rat becomes the snake's meal.
Sometimes the snake is kicked and that
Lets the rat escape that death deal.

Fighters fight again and again,
And one will lose and one will win.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Malabar Giant Squirrel

The Malabar giant squirrels be
Native to India and weigh
Up to four pounds and he or she
Stretch up to eighteen inches - hey!
And these squirrels sport a purplish hue
In their fur on their sides and back.
They do look brilliant, yes they do,
As quite a sight full each does pack.
These squirrels do live high up in trees,
And store their nuts and stuff up there.
Up there they seem to blend with ease,
Amid the colors they do share.

This purplish squirrel likes to live high,
Hard to be seen but you can try.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Measured Response

I know my name, of course I do.
I know that tests are being done
By lots of folks, all seeking to
Be the best determining one.
I was picked to participate
In a group study, and we were
Checked if each of us did equate
When our name called did occur.
So when I heard them call my name,
I would give a response so that
I'd get a reward as the aim,
Cuz after all I am a cat.

I hear my name - first thought to be,
I wonder what's in it for me.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Bagel Debate

To slice a bagel or slice not,
That is the question often asked,
When a bunch of bagels are brought
To a group and eating is tasked.
There are the purists who believe
A bagel should be eaten whole.
When purists see slicing, they grieve.
Nothing can be said to console.
Purists believe any cream cheese
On the whole bagel should be spread.
A pre slice shall never appease.
Sliced bagels should never be fed.

If a bagel you wish to share,
Purists are watching - so beware.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Split Second Sacrifice

I was in my car driving on
The expressway in the mid day,
My children in car seats upon
The back seat where they were at play.
Ahead of us quite suddenly,
Going the wrong way, a car came.
No time to swerve defensively,
But then a police car took aim,
And pulled in front of me ahead,
Allowing me to move aside,
Taking the crash head on instead,
As those in both of those cars died.

I thank that state trooper who gave
His life for our lives to save.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Look at All those Kids - LP Zoo

This chameleon senses that
I do have visitors, I do,
Here to visit my habitat,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
It has now turned that time of year,
Spring has sprung, more humans come out,
And lots of children do appear,
A learning experience, no doubt.
I do watch all as all watch me.
A good connection I do sense,
And so eager all seem to be.
Bunches of kids can be intense.

So many youth for goodness sake.
Something I hear is called Spring break.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

For Whom the Bell Tolls?

April first, 1996
There appeared a newspaper ad
Across the land that did transfix
The U.S., making many mad.
Taco Bell, fast food company,
Announced it was able to buy
The Liberty Bell so there'd be
Less national debt - so said why.
The ad of course caused an uproar.
Many did not take it too well,
And really were not looking for
Renamed Taco Liberty Bell.

The ad upset a lot of folk,
Even though an April Fools' joke.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Walk of Fame

The famed Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1960 came to be,
A coral colored star with the name
Of the honored celebrity.
Joanne Woodward is often thought
To have been the first to receive
A star, but really true that's not.
One of the first eight to achieve,
While final approval did pend.
Director Stanley Kramer had
First permanent star in the end.
Rumor has it Joanne was mad.

Since, so many stars have been put,
They are constantly underfoot.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

My Choice - LP Zoo

This penguin is willing to do
An encounter with folks today,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Humans are seated on display,
As I and other penguins see.
We penguins then can choose or not
Whether or not we want to be
Up close and personal a lot,
With the humans who cannot touch,
But can watch us penguins nearby
Do stuff that awe the humans much.
I like to show off eye to eye.

Encountering me is quite nice.
I am always well worth the price.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Jumping Jeopardy

The arctic barnacle geese do
Hatch in their nests in cliffs on high.
Sometime that day the goslings new
Must make a leap into the sky,
Down to the grass to eat below,
Which the parent geese will not bring.
Why not? - only the geese do know.
Perilous fall for each gosling,
Most of the chicks survive the fall,
So lightweight when they hit the ground.
But there the dangers lurk for all -
So many predators around.

Fewer than half will live for good,
Making it to their adulthood.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Prenatal Care - LP Zoo

The keepers give great care they do
To this rhino, soon Mom to be,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
I participate willingly
In all the tests that should be done,
To assure that all's going well
For my future daughter or son.
It's a team effort, I can tell.
For months now I've had training so
I've built all the trust that I need,
And when the keepers call, I go,
So good tests can be done indeed.

All's going well for baby bound
According to the ultrasound.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Toast to T. rex

The biggest T. rex has been found,
Dug up in 1991,
Buried in Saskatchewan ground,
Lots of digging had to be done.
The fossilized bones indicate
An almost ten ton dinosaur
That way back in an early date
Was a beast that none could ignore.
To celebrate discovery,
The field crew found a bottle of
Scotch for hearty treats to be,
Thus a name for T. rex did gov.

The biggest known T. rex of fame
Was dubbed to be "Scotty" by name.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

A Woman's Work...

The female worker honeybee
Lives about seven weeks or so,
And throughout does work constantly,
And day by day is on the go.
Her first job is cleaning the hive,
Cleaning hives cells for eggs anew.
Next job is helping keep alive
New bees with feeding chores to do.
Then she transitions to the job
Of flying out on round trips long,
To bring back plant pollen agob,
To make honey to keep all strong.

The hives depends on one and all.
Each honeybee does heed the call.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Kapuki is Due - LP Zoo

Good news at the Lincoln Park Zoo,
A pregnant rhino, Kapuki.
Sometime this May the calf is due,
And will be her second as she
Prepares again to be a Mom.
Sixteen months of gestation that
Kapuki's going through quite calm,
Busy about her habitat.
Having been through this all before,
She's ready and able to care
For the babe that all will adore,
With many memories to share.

So set your baby rhino clocks.
Sometime this May the moment rocks.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Lifetime Ties - LP Zoo

We meerkats do stick close we do
To one another night and day,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
None of us does go their own way.
When one of us does go to be
Checked by humans for this or that,
All of us does accompany
To and from our habitat.
And we won't let new meerkats in,
Unless they do be born from us.
Outside meerkats just begin
A bunch of bad trouble and fuss.

All together as time goes by,
Until the last of us to die.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Floating Eyes - LP Zoo

The eyes of me are upon you,
As African Journey you take,
While here at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
I'm watching ev'ry move you make.
The eyes of this dwarf crocodile
Are located high on my head,
So I can watch you even while
The rest of me's submerged instead,
Under the water hidden well,
Completely motionless, and so
It's very hard for you to tell
That I am watching from below.

You're looking for me and - surprise!
Looking back is my pair of eyes.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

No Time to Tadpole - LP Zoo

Solomon Island leaf frogs do
Hatch from the egg as a frog whole,
Like me here at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Skipping the stage of a tadpole,
Right out of that egg I hopped out,
And looked for food instinctively.
I saw some crickets were about,
And I guessed they must be for me.
I watched the crickets for a while,
So as to reaffirm my hunch.
Then finally with a frog smile,
I proceeded to have some lunch.

Right now I'm still behind the scenes,
Learning all my frog ways and means.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Itchy - LP Zoo

Since moving to Lincoln Park Zoo
From Louisville some years ago,
I picked up some allergies new,
And they got itchy, doncha know.
So allergy docs checked me out,
And found the plants that make me itch.
I'm getting treatments, and no doubt
So far so good - these treatments, which
Are mixed in local honey that
I like to lick, cuz it tastes good.
In time while in my habitat,
Life will be itchless as it should.

I thank the humans for the care,
Helping this itchy polar bear.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

The Mimic Sun Bear

In Southeast Asia the sun bear
Is seen to share a human trait.
Facial mimicry they can share.
Why is this? - humans contemplate.
Often two sun bears face to face,
And one sun bear seeming to smile,
The other sun bear would then place
The same grin after a short while.
Sun bears do tend to not to be
Like humans, social butterflies.
And so this facial mimicry
Comes to humans as a surprise.

Humans will study sun bears so
Maybe inquiring minds will know.