Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Mondika Turns One - LP Zoo

5/12/20 - a big day for

Mondika who is one year old.

There is celebration galore,

As the habitat's rocked and rolled

With the gorilla family,

All a getting into the act,

Having a Happy Birthday spree,

For all the troop that is fun packed.

Mondika, the brother and son,

Must wonder what it's all about -

Why's ev'rybody having fun?

Must be a special day no doubt!

Birthdays are always fun to do

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Otter Take a Nap - LP Zoo

Asian otters, Gasby and Phraay,

Together take a break, they do,

From their busy schedule of play

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Whiskers to whiskers, both are sure

Snuggled in close to catch some zzzs,

Dreamin' Phraay, him, and Gasby, her,

Each enjoying some time of ease.

When awake, both will be back at

The playfulness that they enjoy,

Romping throughout their habitat,

Best of buddies, this girl and boy.

Whether busy or not they be

Terrific twosome otterly.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Quick on the Chew - LP Zoo

Just hanging out, Luigi is.

The sloth is sprawled out on a limb,

And just minding his own biz,

When a keeper starts feeding him.

Fruit and veggies given by hand,

Of course Luigi's all for that.

He finds this attention quite grand,

Lip smacking in his habitat.

It is said that sloths do be slow,

But Luigi chows down sure fast,

As down into his tummy go

The food as long as it does last.

Luigi can be quick to chew,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Ricko's Ballgame - LP Zoo

Ricko is playing a game to

Keep his big boomer ball away,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

From keepers who might dare to play.

"Just try to take this ball from me,"

The message in Ricko's keen stare

At the keepers who nearby be.

None of the keepers take the dare,

Cuz o'er the ball Ricko does squat,

All the three thousand pounds of him.

Keepers know that they'd better not

Play grab the ball - the odds are grim.

He's not to be played with at all

When rhino Ricko's on the ball.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Pony Prequel - LP Zoo

The vet does make a visit to
Let the ponies get to know her,
At the Farm in Lincoln Park Zoo.
She brings some treats to help for sure.
This get acquainted's good so that
The ponies have a comfort zone
For health care in their habitat
When the seeds of trust have been sown.
Boss pony, Li'l Red, does be
Okay this time with meet and greet.
So along with Mr. Burns, he
Cooperates and gets a treat.

A good enough incentive, yup,
The Farm ponies will pony up.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Gasby and Phraay - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Asian otters, Gasby and Phraay,
Logging time in their hollow log,
Taking a break from otter play,
Resting their limbs from all the jog.
Phraay - he's gone into a nap mode,
While Gasby - she is peeking out.
A keeper's watching their abode,
And taking a picture no doubt.
Phraay and Gasby - they do not mind.
They know the keepers keep them great -
Their fav'rite of the humankind.
The keeper care's always first rate.

Through the Covid phenomenon
Care at Lincoln Park Zoo goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Milk from Mom - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Mom is doing what Moms do do,
Nursing her baby just days old
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
So very gently Mom does hold
Her little snow monkey so that
The babe feels safe and warm all while
Busy in the big habitat.
The sweet image does bring a smile
To the keeper who is nearby,
And takes a picture for Facebook
So it can reach the public eye,
To smile too when taking a look.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Giraffe Training - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

There's a daily training to do
By keepers for the giraffe, three,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Careful with care the keepers be,
Wearing masks and gloves in training,
Also other protective gear,
And keeping social distancing
While going through all the drills here.
It is very important that
Safety be foremost with the care
In each and ev'ry habitat,
In all animals' best welfare.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Lazar turns Thirty - LPZoo

Lazar, the howler monkey, is
Turning thirty years old today.
And so it's celebration biz
In an awesome and howling way.
On the branches, Lazar does climb,
Checking out all of the stuff that
Is hanging for his special time,
All throughout Lazar's habitat.
And Lazar is happy to share
With other howler monkeys too.
Keepers give all the best of care
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Wave from Rollie - Social Distancing - LPZoo

Gorilla, Rollie, does wave to
A keeper who's standing nearby
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Sometimes Rollie must wonder why
No visitors have been around.
Normally in the month of May
The visitors here do abound -
So many humans on display.
Keepers are still here thankfully,
And Rollie is glad about that.
They care for all her family
In the gorilla habitat.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Muddy Maku - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

On a stroll is muddy Maku.
The rhino loves to roll in mud
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Three thousand pounds, he makes a thud
When he decides to take a roll
In his big private mud pit that
Does soothe his body, mind and soul
While in his outside habitat.
Alas, no visitors appear
To watch Maku do his mud thing.
Virus concerns keep them from here.
Humans are social distancing.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Green Tree Frog - Social Distancing - LPZoo

A green tree frog is green and yes
Does like to be in trees they do,
And just frogging out more or less
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
This frog is made in U.S.A
And likes to eat the bugs that fly -
Flies and mosquitoes are yum prey,
As the frog zaps them from the sky.
This frog can sense the bugs fly near,
And then it gets ready no doubt,
When the bug is close enough here,
To zap by thrusting its tongue out.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Red Wolf Pack - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

It is a rainy spring day that
The red wolf pack decides to do
Exploring through the habitat
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
No Zoo visitors for a while
Due to the Covid virus thing.
Along the fence the wolves can file
And watch folks social distancing
The wolves take special notice in
People walking their dogs nearby.
And surely the wolves will howl when
An ambulance siren does cry.

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

Senses Sonnet - Pumper

Hens - Social Distancing - LPZoo

The hens do decoop, the hens do,
To greet a brand new morning day
At the Farm in Lincoln Park Zoo,
To mix their time 'tween work and play.
Lots of clucking as the hens chat
About the stuff hens chat about,
As they move through their habitat,
Eating breakfast a must no doubt.
Close together, they do their thing,
Some chicken biz, some chicken fun,
No need for social distancing,
Whether set still or on the run.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Dancin' Rae - Social Distancing - LPZoo

"I'm 3 - I'll dance if I want to!"
Says Rae, the giraffe, stepping high
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Lots of groovy moves in supply.
It is a beautiful day that
Rae chooses to spring into dance
Around her outside habitat.
And a keeper happens to glance,
And then snap some pictures of her
To put on Zoo Facebook to see,
Rockin' like a Rockette for sure,
Kickin' her legs quite zestfully.

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

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Mario - Social Distancing - LPZoo

Mario, the pied tamarin,
Spies a keeper wanting to take
A picture, so the imp within
Mario urges him to make
A so awesomely funny face.
Being small, the monkey comes near,
Positioned at a closer place,
So his face would better appear.
This does seem too good to be true,
But the keeper is pleased no doubt.
Then a face Mario does do,
Including sticking his tongue out.

Mario likes to have fun too
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Amare - Social Distancing - LPZoo

Amare, the gorilla, is
Sitting still upon a tree stump,
Adroit with acrobatic biz,
Balanced upon his feet and rump.
Both arms folded against his chest,
And with a calm and serene gaze,
As though he is taking a rest
From any and all hectic ways.
Four hundred twenty pounds of weight
Upon a ten pound stump of wood
Is difficult to contemplate,
But Amare makes it look good.

Through the Covid phenomenon
Care at Lincoln Park Zoo goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Stare Down - Social Distancing - LPZoo

The dwarf mongoose is looking at
The keeper who is looking back.
Peek a boo in the habitat
For which the mongoose has a knack.
It turns into a stare down and
Both do keep staring for a while.
The mongoose wins the stare down grand,
And gives the keeper a wry smile.
The keeper leaves, waving goodbye.
The dwarf mongoose is alone there.
Being a competitive guy
He does just continue to stare.

Through the Covid phenomenon
Care at Lincoln Park Zoo goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Birch - Social Distancing - LPZoo

Birch, the black bear, is on a roll,
Rolling his plastic boomer ball
With all his body, heart and soul,
Enjoying the fun of it all.
Birch is very persistent at
Keeping the ball within the bounds
Of the path in the habitat,
So the ball would make bouncing sounds.
It is a lovely springtime day
For Birch to be playing his game,
Keeping the ball bouncing in play,
Thanks to Birch and his awesome aim.

Through the Covid phenomenon
Care at Lincoln Park Zoo goes on.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

And Then There Were Two - Social Distancing - LPZoo

New born - first one and now there's two
Snow monkeys in this '20 spring
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Two joy bundles - an awesome thing.
Volunteers got to name the first,
Nikko, meaning ray of sunshine,
And she's sitting in a sun burst,
Watching the second with Mom dine.
In this spring will these two still see
Some snow as befitting their name?
In Chicago, weather does be
Such that a snow storm can take aim.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Burr Oak - Social Distancing - LPZoo

A lot of plants do grow, they do,
From old to young, from big to small,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
An arboretum to plants all.
The old big burr oak tree sure is
A good example of plant prime,
Two hundred years plus doing biz
In one place over lots of time.
This oak enjoys another spring.
Alas, no visitors are here,
Due to the social distancing.
Who knows when crowds will next appear.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Rae Turns Three - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

April 26th, '20 is
Sweet Rae girl giraffe's 3rd birthday,
And there's tall celebrating biz
To wish the happiest for Rae.
It is a celebration that
Includes the other giraffes, two,
Within the inside habitat
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
The meerkats and aardvark nearby
Give a Happy Birthday shout out.
And of course keepers do supply
Lots of birthdays goodies no doubt.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Kapuki and Romeo - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Kapuki and son, Romeo,
Do a stroll 'round their yard, they do,
To see if visitors might show
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Alas, still no visitors be
Here to visit the rhino pair.
Soon a year old, Romeo, he
Does ask Mom why no crowds are there.
Mom says from keepers she's heard that
A virus keeps the crowds away
From visiting their habitat.
Crowds will be back soon - not today.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Talini - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Talini, polar bear does do
A refreshing dip in the pool
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
A keeper watches and that's cool.
But normally on a nice day
Loads of visitors come to see
Talini in her dipping way.
For some time no visitors be.
Where have all the visitors gone?
They've gone to social distancing
Through the Covid phenomenon.
So Talini keeps on watching.

Though no visitors visit there
The closed Zoo continues to care.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Two Front War

General George Washington did face,
In the war of independence,
Two enemies in time and place -
The British and the small pox. Since
Washington survived the pox when
A teenager in Barbados,
He knew immunity got then
Was vital, so gave a small dose
Of the pox virus to his troops,
Who then acquired immunity.
And soon after colonist groups
Followed suit and became healthy.

Thanks to Washington both foes were
Fought smart and defeated for sure.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Big Curiosity - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

The newest snow monkey does do
A checking out of this and that
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Throughout the outside habitat.
She is only a few weeks old,
And moves away from Mom a bit,
Getting the urge to being bold,
Just as long as Mom does permit.
There is so much for her to know
About what all is around her.
But she has time as she does grow
To learn about her home for sure.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Fisher Penguins - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

African penguins fish, they do.
Fish is their fav'rite food in fact
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Where the keepers get in the act.
The keeper holds a fish out and
A penguin grabs it in its beak,
Then swallows the fish whole - so grand
Watching this fish bye - so to speak.
At meal time all the colony
Crowds together for the fish thing.
The keeper feeds each one quickly,
And there's no social distancing.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Charles - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

Charles, the seal, is catching some rays.
All sprawled out on a rock he be,
Showing off his hanging out phase,
Doing his thing contentedly.
For reasons that only Charles knows,
He hangs his head down in the pool.
Bubbles blown once in a while shows
Charles is alive and oh so cool.
There are no visitors about
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Enjoying seeing Charles no doubt,
Doing the seal stuff he does do.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Flamingo Splash - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

A flamboyant of flamingos
Go a wading flamboyantly
In the pond with calm water flows,
All feathered up in pink they be,
Stretching their legs and looking for
Yummies in the water to eat.
The pond's like a grocery store,
And the prices are hard to beat.
Keepers keep the pond stocked, they do,
And the flamingos go shopping
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
And there's no social distancing.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Gaboon Viper - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

A moving mosaic on a scale
Of one to ten and is a ten
In each and ev'ry fine detail,
As the snake does move through its den.
Artful pattern of scales laid out
In black and tan and brown and white,
An hypnotic vision no doubt.
Both a lovely and fearsome sight,
African gaboon viper is
A venomous predator, true,
And minds quite well its deadly biz
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

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

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Gecko - Social Distancing - LP Zoo

What does look like a jelly bean
Is really a gecko egg that
Is about to crack and then seen
A new hatched in the habitat.
The hatchling breaks out of the shell,
Ready and able to now go
From the egg where it long did dwell
To a new world and say hello.
A camera's there to catch the view
Of this new little gal or guy
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
The gecko comes close to say, "Hi."

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