Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Teed Off Turtle - LP Zoo

This turtle's just trying to chew

On my salad, minding my biz

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

When an interruption there is.

There's a human coming toward me,

Holding that gizmo in his hand,

And pointing it excitedly

For pictures. I don't understand

Why humans seem to have this need

To take pictures all of the time.

It can be annoying indeed.

Disturbing my lunch is a crime.

All I can do is give a stare,

Saying to go bother elsewhere.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Eva - LP Zoo

Eva is a tamarin who

Is a gold headed lion kind

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

And for a moment does not mind

Patiently remaining still while

A photo is taken of her.

Giving her Mona Lisa smile,

With a look of intrigue for sure,

This lady does present a face

Leaving watchers to wonder at

Her thinking in this time and place,

While posing in her habitat.

Picture perfect she does present,

But what she's thinking - not a hint!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Blend In Bixby - LP Zoo

What does Bixby, the screech owl, do?

She tucks herself by a tree trunk

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

In a camouflaging slam dunk,

Blending into the tree quite well,

Making it hard for eyes to see

Her in the spot where she does dwell.

She just looks as part of the tree.

Then the opening wide her eyes

Gives good hint that she's there for sure.

Quite an eye opening surprise

If you'd been staring right at her.

Of course her presence leaves no doubt

When she does do a loud screech out.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Hair Hearing

A jumping spider sees quite well,

Thanks to having several eyes,

But also has the sense to tell

Sound waves occurring that applies.

Even though this spider does not,

Like other animals, have ears.

Sensory hairs this spider's got

With same result as though it hears.

Sound wave vibrations it does feel

From as far as ten feet away,

And does signal its brain for real

Of potential danger or prey.

Thus the jumping spider can know

To or from where a jump might go.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Soleful Seal - LP Zoo

This seal has decided to do

A nice morning dip in the pool

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Quite refreshing and oh so cool!

The giant pool is mine alone,

No other seals to bother me,

As I explore the big wet zone

In time and place contentedly.

This underwater world is mine,

At least for now and so I move,

A solitaire seal feeling fine

That only I make waves that groove.

I won't have too long solitude.

My seal mates will too soon intrude.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Nayembi Turns Eight - LP Zoo

The gorilla family do

Have good reason to celebrate

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Miss Nayembi is turning eight.

It's a time to party for sure.

Ev'rybody joins in the fun.

Nayembi's happy to share her

Special day with everyone.

There are so many goodies that

All of the gorillas may share, 

Located through the habitat.

The party time is ev'rywhere.

Miss Nayembi, Happy Birthday.

You go girl and party away.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore - named for a white guy,

A greedy mining lawyer who

Helped as a "grab the land" ally

From long holding Lakota Sioux.

A sacred mountain was carved with

The faces of Presidents, four,

To hype the American myth

And bury truth behind folklore.

Within the tourist attraction

Be buried how powers that be

Allowed grave misdeeds to be done

In the name of land of the free.

Such crimes in stone in deceit cast -

The future will judge this sad past.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Long and Short - LP Zoo

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo

Meercat Miranda's checking out

A high up next door neighbor who

Is much taller than her no doubt.

Giraffe Rae stretches her long neck

Over the wall to wave a "Hi"

To Miranda with a spot check

Of her short neighbor who's nearby.

Miranda nods neighborly back

To Rae who is high above her,

Knowing no predator attack

From Rae, a good neighbor for sure.

Both short and tall neighbors do be

A picture perfect sight to see.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Jack Snack - LP Zoo

This snow monkey spends Halloween

On my own Jack-O-Lantern chew.

Less and less of Jack-O is seen

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

A strong taste for pumpkin I've got,

And always get this time of year,

When pumpkins do appear a lot

For Halloween, then disappear.

And so I do grab at the chance

To take this opportunity

Of all by myself circumstance

To make this Jack fond memory.

I am a chew phenomenon,

Chewing on Jack until he's gone.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Tut Tut Titi - LP Zoo

A carved pumpkin for them to chew,

For the gray titi monkeys, three,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

But one monkey is selfishly

Hogging the pumpkin as his own,

Keeping the other two away,

Making his pumpkin claim quite known

In a "you two get lost" display.

The two wanna chews take turns at

Trying to scoot the selfish one.

There's tension in the habitat

As lots of bickering is done.

The selfish one is quite headstrong,

And in no mood to get along.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Pumpkineer Djeke - LP Zoo

Young gorilla, Djeke, does chew 

Intently on a pumpkin piece

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

On a mission that will not cease,

Till that pumpkin be all chewed up,

Swallowed and down in his tummy.

Quite a feat for the young guy - yup!

Downing a pumpkin is yummy.

Young Djeke does remember that

Pumpkins come only once a year,

In fall time in the habitat,

So take advantage while they're here.

Djeke chews till the pumpkin's gone,

Quite a filling phenomenon.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Two Pumpkineers - LP Zoo

Two beaded lizard brothers do

A carved out pumpkin peeking play

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Spending Halloween their own way.

Each lizard takes a pumpkin side,

And through large pumpkin holes can see

Each other - neither one can hide,

Hollow a pumpkin as can be.

Which one will be the first to dare

Slither into a pumpkin hole,

To be inside the pumpkin there?

Neither does seem to want that role.

So each lizard dares the other

To be in the pumpkin brother.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Jack Spit - LP Zoo

Dwarf mongooses on Halloween

Use a carved Jack-O-Lantern to

Trick or treat in a scurried scene

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

The mongooses go in and out

Of the pumpkin in steady stream,

Giving a scary look no doubt

That Jack's wide open mouth does seem

To be spewing a furry roar,

With eyes a piercing all spooked up

As mass of mongoose pile does pour,

A Halloween frightful sight - yup!

Come closer to Jack if you dare

With mongooses of mood to scare.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Awakening - LP Zoo

Being a black bear I sure do

Like a whole lot of napping time

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Throughout the night and the day I'm

All curled up in my bed of hay,

Taking the opportunity

For quiet time to nap away.

When I am awakened I be

Taking some time to shake off sleep,

And shake off hay pieces also.

My head does turn in gazing sweep

To get my bearings that I know.

I'm used to this same episode,

Going from nap to awake mode.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Getting Mom's Take - LP Zoo

Young rhino, Romeo, does roam

With Mom about the habitat

That is their Lincoln Park Zoo home.

Both rhinos watch visitors that

Are "oohing" and "aahing" him from

The human walkway that's nearby.

Romeo asks his Mom, "How come"

"They're always here?" Mom does reply,

"You, my son, are a fav'rite for"

"The humans to come out and see."

"You're a growing ambassador"

"For rhinos in the wild that be."

Romeo listens to Mom who

Always teaches him wise and true.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 New to Snow - LP Zoo

Mom, Onu, sits with son, Ozu.

Japanese snow monkeys they be

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Waiting for the first snow to see.

Late October, Chicago town,

The time and place when Mom knows that

Snow's likely to come falling down

Upon the macaque habitat.

This will be young Ozu's first snow,

And Mom is excited for him,

Sharing info he needs to know

About the cold white stuff, prelim.

Mom assures Ozu he'll delight

When all around him turns to white.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 No Lunch Break - LP Zoo

This giraffe has gotten used to

You wanting a picture of me

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

So I pose cooperatively.

I don't know why you humans take

So many pictures of my face.

But wanting me as a keepsake

Is fine with me in any case.

Of course you are now aware that

You take my picture as I am,

In my now in my habitat,

Maybe pose shy or pose a ham.

You'll find me lots of time each day

Posing with a mouthful of hay.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Thirst Quenching - LP Zoo

Sloth, Luigi, decides to do

A water cooler hanging out

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Luigi's got a thirst no doubt.

His water bucket's hanging high,

Tied with a rope from a tree limb.

Acrobatic Luigi guy

Makes it look quite easy for him.

He hangs from the limb by his toes,

And uses his hand as a cup,

Slurping the water like a hose.

He's got this drinking thing down - yup!

Luigi's quite a sight to see

When on a water drinking spree.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Boo from Above - LP Zoo

An upside down hanging out bat,

I'm awaiting Halloween night,

Resting up in my habitat,

Excited for my flight of fright.

While I wait, I chew on some fruit

To build up lots of energy

For later when I'm in pursuit

Of scaring you by li'l ol' me.

Listening for sounds that you make -

Echolocation is how I

Will know the right flight path to take,

And swoop upon you from the sky.

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Hanging out to peeky boo you!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Young Browsers - LP Zoo

Colobus monkeys, Mom and Dad,

With two daughters and one son do

A happy happening that's had 

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

'Round and 'round the mulberry bush

The colobus monkey kids run,

Grabbing at leaves in whirling whoosh,

Browsing the bush and having fun,

As Mom and Dad nearby do be.

Of course both of them knowing that

Their kids are full of energy -

Always a busy habitat.

The three kids put on quite a show,

Flashing long white tails as they go.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Mortimer Meanders - LP Zoo

Mortimer, the turtle, does do

A very slow stroll through the grass

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Checking over ground he does pass.

An eastern box turtle he be,

Comes from the eastern U.S.A.,

Prefers to be on land does he,

Some wading in water's okay.

When wanting to be safe alone,

This turtle pulls together tight,

Thus becoming a "box" of bone

Until the outside world seems right.

But at the Zoo, Mortimer knows

He is safe wherever he goes.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 New Adventures of Old Burma - LP Zoo

White cheeked gibbon, Burma, is at

A time in her life when she is

All alone in her habitat,

Adjusting to by herself biz.

The keepers help her to adjust

With enrichment variety

To keep her overall robust,

Being as busy as can be.

One such enrichment box is filled

With varied veggie, fruit and seed,

Requiring Burma to be skilled,

Finding the hidden treats indeed.

New pursuits Burma does pursue

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Mr. Green Broadbill

A male green broadbill bird, I do

Sport a vibrant, bright plumage green

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Wowing the gals who eye my sheen.

And also as my name implies,

I've got a bill that's broad so that

I'm able, given my small size,

To eat food in my habitat

In bigger mouthfuls so I won't

Stay in any one place too long.

I like to eat fast so I don't

Lose wooing time with my sweet song.

Ever alert instinctively

To search for my Miss Right to be.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Think Akin - LP Zoo

Two crowned lemurs, Dad and son, do 

Keep close watch on a keeper near

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

To check out why the keeper's here.

Could the keeper visit mean that

Good stuff to eat is on the way

To the crowned lemur habitat,

Always a highlight of the day!

Great expectations are shared by

Dad and son as they both do stare

At the keeper with eager eye

For tasty morsels they may share.

There's disappointment 'twixt and 'tween.

Shucks - the keeper's just here to clean.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Young Swinger - LP Zoo

Mondika is a young guy who

Does like to be a hanging out

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Handy gorilla trait no doubt.

He swings from limb to limb with ease,

Hand over hand in measured grace,

Going wherever he may please.

There's no off limits anyplace.

From time to time he'll take a pause

And look around from where he's at,

And acknowledge folks' "oohs" and "aahs,"

Watching him in his habitat.

Indeed it is an awesome thing

Watching Mondika on a swing.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Wolf Awareness Week '20 - LP Zoo

It's Wolf Awareness Week and, true,

The red wolves are very aware

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

And in celebration they share

Several special ice "cakes" that

The keepers filled with fish and meat,

And spread throughout the habitat

For the wolves to de-ice and eat.

At first the wolves use paws to pick

At the ice but too long it takes.

So the wolves get into a kick,

And into the pond go the cakes.

The ice melts faster and there is

A pack of wolves on chow down biz.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Hippo Dippo - LP Zoo

Howie, the hippo, loves to do

A lot of dipping in his pool

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

And does his own way dip so cool!

In underwater time and place

Howie is quite a sight to see,

Moving about with style and grace

As he enjoys his water spree.

Underwater he stays a while,

Doing his dance while he is there,

Giving the watchers a big smile,

As he surfaces for some air.

Howie, the hippo, surely is

Always an awesome water whiz.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Abra - LP Zoo

Abra, the zebra, two months old

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sometimes she's shy, sometimes she's bold,

So much learning for her to do.

But she does know that Mom's close by,

And always looking out for her.

Anytime Abra wonders why,

Mom will have the answer for sure.

Any question of this or that

Abra has, quickly she does go

And finds Mom in the habitat,

Having no doubt that Mom will know.

So many questions do arise.

Young Abra finds answers Mom wise.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Nursing Notes - LP Zoo

Diana monkey, Mom, does do

Another busy Momming day

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

And doing so in patient way.

Mom nurses her six month old son,

Letting her daughter who's nearby

Learn how doing Mom stuff is done.

Lessons that one day could apply,

When the daughter may have her own

Children for which she needs to care.

So Mom does patiently make known

Her good Mom helpful hints to share.

Older Sis watches her Mom show

Some tips on nursing younger Bro.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Fall for Katai - LP Zoo

Black bear, Katai, looks forward to

Another day of Fall Fest fun

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo -

Good time and place for ev'ryone.

He enjoys watching the crowds that

Walk along the pumpkin lined way

And stopping at his habitat -

So many people on display!

All shapes and colors the crowds be,

All kinds of sounds the crowds do make,

Quite a marvel to hear and see,

Enough to keep Katai awake.

Katai does bear up very well

Through all the Fall Fest crowd groundswell.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Blue Bellied Roller - LP Zoo

A blue bellied roller, I do

Like to perch up high in a tree

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

From this vantage point I can see

Any and all insects that may

Happen to make their presence known

As well suited edible prey,

Coming into my attack zone.

My blue belly does tell me that

Lunch is being served down below,

Welcome in my bird habitat,

So quickly downward I will go.

I see a bug and know my goal.

Time to dive bomb - let's rock and roll!