Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Emperor's "Clothes" - LP Zoo

As an emperor newt I do 

Have brightly colored "clothes" I wear

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

I do have lots of fashion flair.

I have a ridged and bright orange head.

An orange ridge runs along my back,

Where rows of round orange bumps are spread

On a shiny background of black.

Should I be grabbed in threatful way,

I will secrete a poison that

Discourages my being prey

To grabbers in my habitat.

Of course I let my keepers be

Able to keep in touch with me.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 All Dotted Up - LP Zoo

A handsome fellow named Pontu,

A white blotched river stingray be

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

All bright white polka dottedly,

A natural camouflage that

Helps him to blend in very well

While in his water habitat

On the bottom where he does dwell.

Rather a unique looking fish,

Enlarged pectoral fins give him

Appearance of floating diskish

As underwater he does swim.

Beware Pontu's tail that can bring

To the toucher a nasty sting.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Amazon Milk Frogs - LP Zoo

We're Amazon milk frogs and do

Like to climb about in the trees

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Wide toe pads help us climb with ease.

The "milk" that's in our name is

Reference to poison substance that

We secrete in protective biz

From threats in our habitat.

And keeps us hydrated as well,

Since in the trees we frogs be found,

And in water we do not dwell.

We hardly ever touch the ground.

In day we hide in leaves from sight,

And then go hunting bugs at night.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Guide the Way - LP Zoo

Mom, Bana, and son, Djeke, do

Spend some quality time outside 

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Djeke says, "Mom, I'll be your guide,"

And leads his Mom to this and that,

Exploring stuff that's here and there,

Around the outside habitat,

A time and place for both to share.

Of course Mom's seen it all before,

But she lets Djeke lead the way,

Knowing he's excited galore,

His leading skills on grand display.

Both gorillas happy indeed,

Mom follows while son takes the lead.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Spirits Undampened - LP Zoo

It is a play date for the two

Young macaques, Ozu and Nikko,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

As both the girls jump to and fro.

One of their Moms keeps watchful eye

While the young monkey girls do play

With energy in great supply,

Even though it's a rainy day.

A rocky wall becomes the place,

As shelter in the habitat,

Where the monkeys do climb and chase,

Each showing off as acrobat.

A little rain the girls don't mind -

Always an adventure to find.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Sweet on Smithers - LP Zoo

Smithers, a pinto pony who

Is enjoying a nice day at

The Lincoln Park Farm in the Zoo,

Trotting about his habitat.

He sees a keeper coming near,

And so he trots over to her

To check out why she may be here.

Smithers is curious for sure.

His hope is that maybe she will

Have a treat for him in her hand.

Apple slices sure would fulfill

Smithers' sweet tooth that would be grand.

Apple seeds of hope have been sewn.

Smithers surely makes his hope known.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Hops - LP Zoo

A hop along kangaroos do,

Enjoying a bright sunny day

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Such leaps and bounds they do display.

A hopping here, a hopping there,

A hop to this, a hop to that,

The roos do have a hopping flair

Hopping about their habitat.

From time to time each roo does stop

To take a break from on the move,

But then again takes up the hop

And back into the hopping groove.

Nothing the kangaroos like more

Than showing off in hops galore.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Kicker - LP Zoo

What's Wester the zebra up to?

A ball has got his attention

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

And Wester's sure having some fun

Rockin' and rollin' all around,

Gettin' his kicks in lively style.

On a mission Wester be bound

To keep that ball movin' a while.

It is a ballgame Wester plays

By himself perhaps to show that

He can make the moves to amaze,

Kickin' around his habitat.

All striped up with the wherewithal,

Wester, the zebra's on the ball.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Leaves for Romeo - LP Zoo

Young Romeo, the rhino, is 

Checking out a leafy branch that

Just showed up and so must be his,

Since it is in his habitat.

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo

The keepers make sure Romeo

Always has something fun to do.

A leafy branch is fun and so

The keepers toss it on the ground,

Knowing that Romeo would soon

Find the fun therein to be found,

Be"leafing" it as opportune.

A fun leafy branch can beguile

Romeo at least for a while.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Safety Zone - LP Zoo

The young macaque monkey did need

To find a real good place to chew

The stick that she did find indeed

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

She needed to find a safe place

Where others would not bother her,

And would not dare to give her chase.

There must be such a place for sure.

And so with stick she looked around,

Checking here and there, this and that,

Until the perfect place was found

In the whole monkey habitat.

She chewed upon the stick with knack

While sitting upon her Mom's back.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Emma Show - LP Zoo

Emma, the otter's in her pool

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

When Emma's swimming she's so cool,

Such awesome movements she does do.

And Emma likes it when there is

Someone watching her through the glass,

As she's doing her swimming biz,

Back and forth the window she'll pass.

From time to time she'll give a wave

To whomever is watching her.

Pleasing her public is a fav -

Emma puts on a show for sure.

When she's swimming Emma does be

Wowing all watchers otterly.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Vulture Awareness Day '20 - LP Zoo

It is Vulture Awareness Day.

Vulture, Linda, celebrates that,

Spreading her wings to flap, "Hooray,"

And looks about her habitat,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

To be aware what there might be,

What good stuff might her keepers do

Just for Linda especially?

Hopefully something good to eat,

Linda's fav way to celebrate,

Nothing better than some raw meat

To make an okay day turn great.

Vulture Awareness, she has for sure,

Linda's aware what's in it for her.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Fish Alert - LP Zoo

Aje, African penguin, who

Is on alert for the fish that,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Comes daily to the habitat.

The keeper normally does feed

The fish to the penguins by hand,

Quite a welcome event indeed.

But as Aje does understand

Sometimes the keeper throws live fish

Into the penguin pool to make

A good exercise in delish,

As penguins vie for catch'em  sake.

Aje is ready either way

To pursue his catch of the day.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 In Loving Arms - LP Zoo

What does Mondika love to do

From his birth to now one year old?

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo

He still loves to be in the hold

Of his caring gorilla Mom,

A place he is sure is filled of

Serenity and peace and calm,

And of course always filled with love.

Anytime Mondika knows that

Into his Mom's arms he can climb

Anywhere in the habitat,

And feel the bliss of cuddle time.

Mondika knows he is Mom's boy

And remains her bundle of joy.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 In Anticipation - LP Zoo

Luigi, the sloth, likes to do

A wrap around on a branch that,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Lets him survey his habitat.

Especially he wants to see

A keeper coming through the door

With some goodies for him, and he

Gets himself all excited for

Such a keeper encounter, and

Smacks his lips with the very thought

Of being keeper fed by hand.

Luigi thinks of this a lot.

When will the keeper next come in?

Luigi's ready for that when.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Browsing Scooter - LP Zoo

Scooter has some browsing to do.

The camel is a busy guy

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

When browse is near, Scooter's not shy.

There are some leafy branches that

The keepers cut and then put out

For Scooter in his habitat.

And he does waste no time no doubt

Opening up his mouth real wide,

And chowing down on leaves and wood,

Making the matter munchified,

A feeling that is oh so good!

For a camel a browse does be

A thing that's taken humpfully.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Be Aware the Wolf - LP Zoo

The young red wolf does look about

To sense what wolf stuff there's to do.

Surely something will be no doubt

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Maybe the keepers will show up,

Setting out an enrichment that

Will entice the young red wolf pup,

And liven up the habitat.

The young red wolf is ready for

Something to happen to excite.

Nothing the young red wolf likes more

Than conquest coming into sight.

Whatever happenings there be

The young red wolf awaits to see.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Dog Day '20 - LP Zoo

August 26th each year is

The International Dog Day,

And African painted dog, Ms

Topaz does make a fine display

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

As she greets visitors nearby,

Doing the best that she can do

To pump the day and not be shy.

She keeps busy with this and that,

Giving all in this time and place,

Who do visit her habitat,

Awesomeness of color and grace.

On this Dog Day of August hot,

Topaz breaks for water a lot.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Tiko Stare - LP Zoo

It is a stare down 'twixt and 'tween

Tiko, DeBrazza monkey, and

A keeper's camera on scene.

Tiko patiently does withstand

The urge of the young to be bored,

And quickly find other things to

Investigate and be explored

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

So Tiko takes his time and place

To stare at the camera that

The keepers sticks close to his face, 

A stare down in the habitat.

The camera does not disguise

The awesomeness of Tiko's eyes.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 On the Duck

A skunk and a duck and a deer

All went to a diner to dine.

It was a time filled with good cheer.

Each one had a meal that was fine.

An enjoyable time indeed,

But then it did come time to pay,

Quite a large sum for all the feed.

There was a feeling of dismay.

The skunk said because of bad luck,

The skunk, he did not have a scent.

The deer had not a single buck.

All of his money he had spent.

But it all worked out as things will.

The meals were put on the duck's bill.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Leaves a Clue - LP Zoo

Playing a game of hide and seek,

The meerkat girls do decide to

Make use of a pail of leaves sneak

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Into and under the leaves they

At first are motionless so that

Seeking keepers do have no way,

While searching through the habitat,

Of knowing where the meerkats hide.

But then the leaves do move around,

As the restless meerkats inside

Do allow themselves to be found.

Quite a good place to hide no doubt,

The meerkat girls at last pop out.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Caruso R.I.P.

Caruso, rest in peace old friend,

A special white cheeked gibbon who

Long gave joy that's come to an end

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Over all those many years that

We came to visit you and see

You thriving in your habitat

With Burma and the family.

You loved to flirt with ladies - yes.

But ev'rybody you'd welcome.

Sometimes comments you would express,

Sometimes quietly suck your thumb.

In memory we watch you swing.

In memory we hear you you sing.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Djeke Reflects - LP Zoo

Young gorilla, Djeke, does do

A peeking through the window game

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Each time he peeks he sees the same.

Djeke does wonder who is that?

So off he runs and hides a bit.

And then young Djeke is back at

The window and peeking through it.

That other gorilla still be

There peeking back at Djeke - yes!

This sure is quite a mystery.

For Djeke it is hard to guess.

Reflecting in the window glare -

Djeke's peeking at himself there.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Cricketing - LP Zoo

I'm a pygmy slow loris who

Is very slowly climbing 'round,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Cuz on a cricket hunt I'm bound.

The keepers let some crickets loose,

And I'm bound and determined that

My keen hunting skills will produce

Crickets caught in my habitat,

And when the crickets are caught, I

Will proceed to have them for lunch,

Cuz tasty crickets do supply

Me with the munchies by the bunch.

Even though slow I guarantee

Crickets can't get away from me.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 New Stripes on the Run - LP Zoo

A kid on the block that is new,

A Grevy's zebra foal is born,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

On a nice August summer morn.

In a few minutes she did walk,

And in an hour she did run

All the way around her home block,

Checking things out and having fun.

She seemed specially impressed that

She could see that she had a tail.

She chased it through the habitat

In twist, turn and round about trail.

Welcome to this new zebra girl

Who's beginning life in a whirl.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Vibes of Birch - LP Zoo

Birch, the black bear, does check out who

Is visiting his habitat,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

A popular place to be at.

Especially when Birch is out,

Greeting visitors one on one,

Making each feel at home no doubt.

Birch wants his guests to all have fun.

Though Birch does not have much to say,

His welcoming need not be said.

His good nature is on display

In his body language instead.

Visitors know when Birch is there.

Some really good vibes he does bear.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Crocodile Tears

Crying crocodile tears is said

When a person is crying fake

For some selfish motive instead

Of crying for emotion sake.

The saying comes from crocs who do

Really shed tears while they do eat

An unlucky now dead prey who

Is the croc's dinner of raw meat.

Is the croc really so sad that

It has just killed the helpless prey?

Experts don't think the croc is at

Any state of a sadness way.

The croc is prob'ly shedding tears

From more air pressure that appears.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Let Us Lettuce - LP Zoo

We cichlids see something that's new,

Floating down in our fish tank,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

And we have the keepers to thank.

It is a head of lettuce that

Comes nicely weighed down and tied up

For us in our habitat,

A very welcome serving - yup!

We all do hurry to partake

In what we sense delightfulish,

An occasion to merry make

In a fashion that's fun for fish.

When there is lettuce, we fish know

It's time for lunch so let us go.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Hadada Ibis - LP Zoo

A hadada ibis, I do

Like to people watch a whole lot

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Some folks are fun to watch, some not.

Some people that I watch may hear

Me make my call of "ha-da-da."

And thus my name it does appear

Was heard and folks then thought, "Ah hah!"

I've heard that some folks think my call

Is an omen both good and bad.

And so amused I do watch all

For reactions my calls have had.

And so when you're around this bird

I'll watch you as I give the word.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Muddy Romeo - LP Zoo

Kapuki watches her son do

A Romeo romp in the mud

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

For rhinos this is in the blood.

The one year old young rhino is

Practicing his muddy up skills,

Getting good at the wallow biz,

Scratching the itch that mud fulfills.

Mom of course is quite proud to see

Her son in pursuit of the good

Tradition of the family

To carry on in rhinohood.

A good wallow in the mud does make

A muddy rhino for feel good sake.