Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Rae - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Oh, look what the keepers did do,
They gave giraffe girl, Rae, some ice
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Rae knows the keepers are so nice.
The ice is shaved and looks like snow,
So Rae does use her tongue to twirl
Into her mouth the ice does go
Before the ice melts - you go girl!
A keeper takes a picture that
Goes on the Zoo Facebook for all
To see Rae in her habitat,
Munching on ice and standing tall.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

June Almeida

June Almeida was first to see,
With an electron microscope,
A virus that did look to be
With a sun like corona slope.
The coronavirus thus named
In the year 1964,
At that time not nearly so famed,
Since there are viruses galore.
A Scottish scientist she would
Not be recognized much until
Covid 19 pandemichood
Has struck and made so many ill.

Her work's being studied for sure
For any clue as to a cure.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Dwarf Mongoose - Social distancing - LP Zoo

All dwarf mongoose do like to do
Checking out of pinatas that,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Are spread throughout their habitat.
The spring themed pinatas do be
In the shape of flowers that bloom
In spring but few are left to see,
As upon them all mongoose zoom.
The entire colony does cram
Together in a tight knit thing,
Causing a massive traffic jam.
There is no social distancing.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Chimpanzees - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Easter - what do chimpanzees do?
Of course they hunt for Easter eggs
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Romping around on arms and legs,
All looking for any place that
An egg might have been hidden by
The keepers in the habitat.
The chimps have fun but don't know why
Hunting Easter eggs is a thing.
Humans do it but none be seen,
Being in social distancing.
The chimps wonder what does that mean?

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Ferguson - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

At the Farm in Lincoln Park Zoo
The lop eared rabbit, Ferguson,
Thinks he's the Easter Bunny - true!
As about the yard he does run,
Looking for Easter eggs so that
He can hide the eggs here and there,
And then watch from his habitat
As children come to look for where
Each of the Easter eggs might be.
Alas, the virus threat does mean
There will be no children to see.
Ferguson's sad when none be seen.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Fairy Bluebird - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Amid green leaves a burst of blue,
A fairy bluebird can be seen
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
A lovely blue sight in the green,
And perched upon a limb so that
A rest can be taken from flight
In and about the habitat,
All in all quite a calming sight.
A recording is taken so
Watchers away have chance to share
The cute wee bird on video,
Since visitors cannot be there.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Painted Dogs on the Hunt - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

The painted dogs do search, they do,
For meat treats the keepers have hid
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Good hiding job the keepers did.
The painted dogs try to sniff out
Exactly where those meat treats be.
Just a matter of time no doubt
The sniffs be done successfully.
Keepers do a recording that
On social media will show
The hunt around the habitat.
The painted dogs run to and fro.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Storm Turns 13 - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Happy Birthday to Storm, the seal,
Thirteen years old he is today.
The keepers make it a big deal
With a jello cake on display.
And on top of the cake there be
A tasty squid to catch his eye,
Then quickly into Storm's tummy.
No squid lasts long around this guy.
The keepers did send photos out
To virtually celebrate
Storm enjoying his day no doubt.
Now a teenager's starting great.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Bird Chat - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

The tawny frogmouths have a chat
With the nicobar pigeon to
Socialize in the habitat
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Social distancing - there's no need
In the Bird House for birds to be,
Like with humans outside indeed,
So the birds keep close company.
And what do the birds chat about?
About no visitors be here.
People watching - birds like no doubt,
And hope the folks will soon appear.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Phraay - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Hey, hey, I'm Phraay and here to say
This Asian otter misses you,
Visitors coming ev'ry day
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
I hope you all are doing well
With your social distancing that
Means you can't visit for a spell,
And see me in my habitat.
The keepers keep me well cared for,
And they are very good to me.
But I do miss you more and more -
All the visitor company.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Gorillas Get Food - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Nap time the gorilla does do
After having a lettuce lunch
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Gorillas love lettuce a bunch.
And ev'ry day gorillas eat
Loads of lettuce for them spread out,
Fruits and other veggies complete
A nutritious diet no doubt.
Keepers do keep the food supplied,
Thanks to generous donors that
Deliver food from the outside
To the gorilla habitat.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Painted Dogs - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Topaz and Mikumi note that
There are no visitors around
Watching them in their habitat.
Normally visitors abound.
But the painted dogs aren't aware
That the Covid virus does mean
That visitors cannot be there,
And that's why there's none to be seen.
But keepers do keep there, they do,
And both of the painted dogs sense,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Best care is still in evidence.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Moe and Clover - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Moe and Clover, the swans, do do
A close encounter of bird kind
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
A duck comes close, the swans don't mind.
There's no social distancing that
Need keep the swans from getting close
Together in their habitat.
Long time together they engross
In enjoying the lovely day
Floating upon the pond to feel
Tranquility in swansome way,
Sharing moments of close appeal.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

It's a Girl - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

"It's a girl" - is the news about
The recent new born snow monkey.
All the troop is happy no doubt,
And keep the baby company.
Mom, Mara, keeps the baby near
But lets the others come to view
The newest small arrival here -
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
There's no social distancing that
Needs to keep snow monkeys away.
All keep close in their habitat,
But visitors aren't on display.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

My Blue Tongue - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

A blue tongued skink, I like to do
A showing off of my bright tongue
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Watchers are in awe when it's sprung.
A shiny metallic blue that
Is most certainly a surprise
To those watching my habitat,
First time seeing me with their eyes.
Alas, no visitors now be.
The Zoo's closed due to virus threat.
Keepers keep quite good care of me.
Sight of my blue tongue they still get.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

Nadia

Nadia, the tiger, coughed a lot
At the Bronx Zoo, and carefully
A Covid 19 test she got
And virus positive she be.
Her case is the first known one that
A wild animal became ill.
Since she's in a good habitat,
Whatever care can be done - will.
She must have caught the virus from
Some human who was at the Zoo.
This news is for sure not welcome -
A maybe could be coming true.

Hopefully Nadia will get well.
Know one knows - only time will tell.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Chickens - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Beast, rooster, tells all his hens that
It's morning time and time to do
Stuff in the outside habitat
At Lincoln Park Farm in the Zoo
Beast cockle doodle do's and leads
All his girls to where breakfast is,
Meeting their dietary needs.
Beast is in charge and knows his biz.
The keepers keep the chickens well,
Providing all the best of care.
Day after day, keepers excel
For the best of chicken welfare.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Aardvark - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Paatsy, the aardvark, loves to do
A sucking in the termite mound
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
There's lots of goodies to be found.
Of course real termites are not there,
Not good to let them loose to run
All about the Zoo anywhere.
But fake termites are just as fun.
On the mound Paatsy puts her snout,
And like a vacuum she does go
Sucking all of the goodies out.
On Facebook all can watch her show.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Flamingos - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

The flamingos do strut, they do,
Feeling the spring that's in the air
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Alas, no visitors are there
On scene to watch these big birds that
Do courtship dancing 'twixt and 'tween,
Around about their habitat.
But the flamingos can be seen
On social media which be
Uplifting in this time and place
For each and all humans to see
Amidst the crisis that we face.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Keeper Up the Good Work - LP Zoo

Out for my morning swim I do
See a keeper keeping an eye
On me here at Lincoln Park Zoo.
This seal is quite a lucky guy.
I hear the humans talking that
There is a virus all around.
As I watch from my habitat,
No visitors are to be found.
But the keepers are daily here
To give good care animals need,
And that gives me some hopeful cheer
That times will get better indeed.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Sichuan Takin - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

This Sichuan Takin likes to do
Some early morning stretching biz
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
The takin notices there is
No crowd of visitors as norm,
Due to Covid virus concern.
But the takin's staying in form.
A keeper records and in turn
Shares on social media so
The takin taking a stretch be
For anytime a treat to show,
Available for all to see.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Rhinos - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Rhinos, Mom and son, do do
A romp outside on this spring day,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Social media does display
Kapuki and Romeo at
A time when visitors cannot
Come visit live their habitat,
Due to the Covid threat we've got.
The keepers keep the rhinos well,
And take the time to give us some
Moments of rhino show and tell -
Moments that are very welcome.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Iguana Get Fed - LP Zoo

This Jamaican iguana is
Lounging lizarding on a limb,
Chilling out minding my own biz,
Daydreaming a snack on a whim.
Then suddenly a keeper be,
Coming with a salad so fine,
And by hand she is feeding me.
Ah - what a lovely way to dine!
As each tasty veggie comes near,
I grab and chow it down in haste.
Soon all the veggies disappear,
Not a single one gone to waste.

I do enjoy great care, I do,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Otterly Together - LP Zoo

Two Asian small-clawed otters at
Home here in the Lincoln Park Zoo,
Busy about their habitat,
Otterly in teamwork, this two,
Gasby, a she, and Phraay, a he,
Recently introduced, and now
A happy couple they do be.
Their duet cuteness does allow
Visitors to get to connect
With them in a meaningful way,
Getting a contagious affect
Of feeling in a mood to play.

Come watch these otters for a while,
And there's no doubt you'll catch a smile.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

No Visitors Allowed - LP Zoo

This seal is in a world of blue,
Swimming underwater alone
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Which is closed in the Covid zone.
No visitors are coming by
To wave to me and yell, "Hello,"
Making me feel a lonesome guy.
Where did all the visitors go?
The keepers keep me company,
And so I am happy for that.
Lots of good care's given to me
And all seals in the habitat.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Finely's Doing Fine - LP Zoo

This keeper has a job to do -
Keeping Finely, the giraffe, fed
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
And making feeding fun instead
By holding out a leafy limb,
Enticing Finely to come near,
And then letting the long necked him
Make the leaves start to disappear,
Using his tongue to grab and pull
The leaves inside his mouth with glee,
Assuring that his tummy's full.
A happy giraffe Finely be.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

New Snow Monkey 2020 - LP Zoo

Good news from the Lincoln Park Zoo,
A newborn baby snow monkey.
Though not now on live public view,
Through social media there be
The chance to see this little one,
With Mom who's caring for it well,
Doing Mom stuff that should be done.
If a girl or boy - time will tell.
And the keepers keep watchful eyes
To make it a certainty that
All is good animal care wise
In the snow monkey habitat.

Through the Covid phenomenon
The closed Zoo works and life goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Dance of the Cichlids - LP Zoo

A fish ballet the cichlids do,
Choreographed in calming way,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Lots of fintastics on display.
The Zoo's closed unfortunately
Due to virus Covid-19.
But keepers keep on hand to be
Caring for animals on scene.
And a keeper took time to send
Facebook the cichlid video,
Giving viewers moments to spend
Taking in the serenity show.

Hopefully soon in time and place,
Back to the Zoo live face to face.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

The Dog Cries Wolf - LP Zoo

The red wolf watches as the two,
A human and a dog, walk by
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
The red wolf plays a game to try
To get the dog to bark and run
Along the fence that's 'twixt and 'tween.
For the red wolf this is great fun
And causes quite a raucous scene.
Red wolf and dog chase to and fro
In a noisy phenomenon.
The human grabs the dog and so
It's over and they all move on.

The red wolf knows that soon there'll be
Coming along a doggone spree.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Spotted Dikkop - LP Zoo

A spotted dikkop I do be
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
In the Bird House you can find me.
I do be hard to find, I do.
Brown spotted feathers set on tan
Provide a good camouflage that,
Within the ground cover, I can
Blend right into my habitat.
So when I sense you coming near,
And stop close by to take a peek,
Undercover I disappear.
This bird loves to play hide and seek.

So will you be able to spot
This spotted dikkop here or not?