Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Thinking of Him

Among the oldest now on Earth,

This human watching time go by,

Mixed feelings of sadness and mirth,

Whether to laugh, whether to cry.

A half a century ago

My one and only husband died.

Such a long time has passed, I know,

But I still feel him by my side.

He caused me either grief or joy.

He was my better and worse half,

Whether a nice or naughty boy,

Whether to cry, whether to laugh.

There'll never be another him,

Unless I marry on a whim.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Canada Lynx - LP Zoo

A Canada lynx, I come new,

A feline ambassador that,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Can connect from my habitat.

A medium size cat, my fur

Is yellowish brown and quite thick.

I am a good groomer for sure,

Using my tongue for focused lick.

Black tipped tufts top triangled ears,

And long hair on my lower cheek.

A short and black tipped tail appears.

My soundtrack varies when I speak.

Like all cats, this Canada lynx,

She's often catching forty winks.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 NGC 1385

A new galaxy has been seen,

NGC thirteen eighty five,

By Hubble Space Telescope's screen.

Th picture's not exactly live -

Sixty eight million years ago.

And because it's so far away

A picture of it will not show

This galaxy as is today.

The thought of travelling that far

Does certainly boggle the mind.

It's like wishing upon a star

That's still just a daydreaming kind.

But dreams come true, so what the heck,

A future visit in star trek.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Follow the Leaper - LP Zoo

A leap by a red kangaroo

Is a multiple feet feat that,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Is oft seen in their habitat.

When one red roo decides to hop,

Another red roo will join in

For competition for the top

Leap of the day, a prize to win.

A hoppin' 'round the yard they go,

Higher and farther with each leap,

Putting on quite an awesome show.

All eyes on them, the roos do keep.

And when the competition's done

The red roos rest after the fun.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Waterfall

I came upon a waterfall

While walking through a dale one day.

I saw its beauty, heard its call

In a dazzling of light filled spray.

The falling water beckoned me

To venture closer where it fell,

All the better able to be

More sensing of what it might tell.

The water flowing down steep rock,

I watch the water crash below,

And listen to the water talk

Of where its been and where will go.

The waterfall and I did share

A time and place of then and there.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Monolog

A seed, I sprouted from the ground,

Rooted firmly so I might grow.

Others like me were all around.

I grew strong in the sunlit glow.

In some seasons my leaves would quake

And rustle in the breezes that

Turning to winds made branches break,

Gusting through our habitat.

One day a mighty storm did tear

Through our grove uprooting me.

Many fallen ones did lie there,

From life to death naturally.

As a log I await my time

Once more into a life to climb.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Meet at the Bridge - LP Zoo

Around my eyes a patch of blue,

Otherwise I'm all feathered white

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

This Bali mynah's quite a sight.

In the Bird House I can be found,

In the Free Flight with other birds,

Filled with bird color and bird sound,

Assorted bird feathers and words.

But stand upon the bridge awhile,

And I shall fly and perch nearby,

And shall bring to your face a smile,

Singing to you my lullaby.

When it's time for you to depart,

You'll take my song with you in heart.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Phoenix

The Phoenix be a bird of myth,

A great bird of paradise who

Lives for many centuries with

Feathers of red and yellow hue.

When this Phoenix lifespan be done,

This great bird builds its sacred nest,

And there awaits until the sun

Rises to give a fiery rest,

Sending a spark to light the fire,

Consuming the Phoenix in flame.

For resurrection to inspire

Human hearts, the Phoenix became.

From the ashes a short time when

The Phoenix bird does rise again.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 More Involved

Human studies do now show that

The big fin reef male squid does be

Paternal in his habitat,

Staying after mating, and he

Would scare off rivals coming by.

Not something thought that a male did

Who seemed a mate then take off guy,

Not caring he was a Dad squid.

Some scientists now theorize

That more than merely sex machines,

Male squids are really caring guys

And are invested in their genes.

More studies surely will be had

On the male squid as doting Dad.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 About My Ears - LP Zoo

This La Mancha goat does hear you,

"Look - that goat is missing his ears!"

At Lincoln Park Farm in the Zoo.

I assure you that this goat hears.

My ears are simply very short.

My kind comes from mountainous Spain.

Frostbite is bad and so to thwart,

Real short ears my kind did attain.

I'm telling you this but know that

Elsewhere this info you need seek.

I can talk from my habitat,

But you don't understand goat speak.

My ears are short and I know why.

You don't, but thanks for stopping by.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Burma's Turned 33 - LP Zoo

Lady Burma's turned 33

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

The beloved white cheeked gibbon, she

Swings forward with so much to do

In and out of her habitat,

Welcoming visitors year 'round.

She's still the awesome acrobat

Whether high up or on the ground.

An energized tan hued furball

With gaze of wisdom in her eyes,

Lady Burma is fun for all

To watch as through the air she flies.

Lady Burma, Happy Birthday,

Celebrate in a swinging way.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 By Hook or Crook

Going fishing, I'm ready to

Lure the fish with my fancy lures.

I open up the box and view

Them, pumped up by their reassures

That though expensive each one is

Specially made in its design

As the best in fish catching biz,

Beguiling fish in shape and shine.

I need to prove to family

That fancy gear is not foolish.

I know the fun they'll have with me

If I do not catch any fish.

But I will do as done before

And buy some big fish at the store.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Nuts!

I knew my wife was crazy so

I took her to a mental ward.

The docs came and I let them know

My wife, she needed help, oh lord!

I told them how my wife was such

A tyrant treating me so mean,

And expected from me too much.

She was wacko and should be seen.

Of course my wife put on an act

Of normal and that caused me to

Get so frustrated that I cracked.

Lots of gibberish I did spew.

I guess not too surprisingly

They let my wife go and kept me.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Vulture Awareness Day '21 - LP Zoo

It is Vulture Awareness Day.

Vulture, Grimm, makes us aware that

He's vigilant looking for prey,

As he finds in his habitat

An ear of corn the keepers placed.

Grimm, with his talons, does grab on

And with sharp beak does in great haste

Shred it apart like carrion.

But when Grimm is done with his task

Looking for something good to eat,

He looks around as if to ask,

"All this effort, so where's the meat?"

Grimm will get meat on which to chew

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 No "r" in Colonel

Word "colonel" pronounced "kernal" - why?

There's no "r" in colonel at all.

Used to be "coronel" but, sigh,

Some picky people made the call.

"Colonnello" was the root word,

Italian army officer.

The picky people thought absurd

Not to include first "l" for sure.

But English speakers by this time

Were too used to saying the "r"

And did not find it was a crime

To keep saying it, though bizarre.

Talking and writing in English,

Letter conflicts oft seem foolish.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Becoming Dispensable

The smart phone high technology

Is getting smarter day by day,

Beguiling most humans like me

To conform to the smart phone way.

My smart phone's telling me to trust

Whatever on it's heard and seen.

In order to survive I must

Constantly check the smart phone screen.

Oft I wonder if my smart phone

Is only using me until

It can function all on its own,

Especially to move at will.

Soon my smart phone through air will coast,

No longer needing me as host.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 The Beast Within

Bible Revelation 13

Reveals the coming of the Beast.

Satan is on the worldly scene,

The North, the South, the West, the East,

And leaving Satan's mark upon

The each and all of humankind.

Seeds of evil phenomenon

Planted in ev'ry human mind.

Both choices, good and evil, be,

And 'twixt and 'tween each human picks.

For each one good thought that's in me,

There's three evil thoughts - sicks, sicks, sicks.

I need to pray my sicks away,

And let just good thoughts do my day.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Closer Look - LP Zoo

A spectacled caiman, I do

Sometimes see fit to leave my pond

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

And go out to see what's beyond.

Out of the water I do crawl

Onto a rock, and then I climb

To better see the scen'ry all

I see from my pond all the time.

I find myself looking down where

I see my pond beckoning me,

And know I like it better there.

My pond is where I'd rather be.

I've seen all I need see and so

Back down into my pond I go.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Bonding

Young be beckoned by the old sea.

Its waves be waving children to

Come on an adventure to be

Seeking treasures from the deep blue.

Sea shells await upon the shore

Sent by the sea for young to find,

And be emboldened to find more

Brought by the waves, boggling young mind.

Some children let the waves splash on

Them and soaking them with wet.

The waves roll up then flow back gone,

But will return in moments yet.

The old sea seems content to play

With the children who come today.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Forever War

Afghanistan, "So long," we say.

We came some twenty years ago.

Longest war fought by U.S.A.

But there's no victory to show.

We did fight your Taliban for

Giving Bin Laden haven in.

We decided to go to war,

But never really fought to win.

Lots of our powers that be

Are ever looking for excuse

To be fighting war constantly,

No matter what human abuse.

Afghanistan, time out for now.

We may resume this war somehow.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Wordsworth's Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud

As Wordsworth wandered long ago.

And like he I looked for a crowd

Of golden daffodils to show.

For I did wander Glencoyne Bay

Just as Wordsworth had wandered there,

Finding daffodils on display.

And in a poem he did share

How the daffodils did entrance

Him in his heart and soul and mind.

In him the daffodils did dance.

Daffodils there I did not find.

My daffodil quest would not stop.

I wandered to a flower shop.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Just Being Polite

A ch-ch-ch maraca sound

When in the wild comes to the ear

Means that a rattlesnake's around,

Wants maybe predators to hear.

And so its tail of keratin

The rattlesnake causes to shake.

Slowly the rattle does begin,

Then more rapid rattles to make,

The closer the deemed threat does get

As if the rattlesnake does say,

"Hey intruder there's still time yet"

"To turn around and go away."

Before a rattlesnake does bite,

It rattles a warning polite.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 We

Born out of revolution, We

Came to believe in hopes and dreams,

Decided on democracy,

Making mistakes with human schemes

Like slavery and theft by force,

But changing ways of heart and mind,

Striving to find a better course

To benefit all humankind.

Progress but not perfection yet,

We strive together to achieve

True freedom for all and to let

The future know We still believe.

We the People of U.S.A.

A better nation come what may.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Ruffling - LP Zoo

Buffy, the ostrich, comes out to

Feel that it's a very hot day

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

So to stay cool she has her way.

She finds shade in her habitat.

Then in position standing still,

She spreads out both her wings so that

Through all her feathers air will fill.

Her feathers she then ruffles for

The effect of a blowing fan,

Ruffling and ruffling more and more,

Accomplishing her cooling plan.

Chicago heat, she's not deterred,

Buffy, the ostrich, one cool bird.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Hedwig

Snowy owl, Hedwig, was a gift

From Rubeus Hagrid, a way

To give Harry Potter a lift

Up on his eleventh birthday.

A close companion she became,

Going with Harry to and from

Many adventures with the aim

To help Harry through wizardom.

When the Death Eaters did attack

Hedwig was right at Harry's side

Protecting Harry, fighting back,

And sadly then and there she died.

The character Hedwig, a she,

Actors portraying her were he.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Seasoned Life

I started life one Summer day.

I like the hot sun on my face,

And all the time outside to play.

Then Autumn time does come to grace

My senses with nature's fine art,

Leaving me always in such awe,

Making way for next Winter's part

Of snowy wonder, chilling raw,

Until the new and fresh of Spring,

Its message of rebirth to send.

Each year brings me four seasoning.

One season day my life will end.

Whether going through joy or strife,

I'm well four seasoned through my life.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Ghosts on the Move

The London Bridge was taken down

Stone by stone and then taken to

A new home far from London town -

Arizona, Lake Havasu.

The bridge was then rebuilt and spanned

Across the lake waters below.

Then came what none could understand.

Haunting stories began to grow.

Boating accidents did occur

Beneath the bridge and many died.

Did ghosts from the past come to stir

From old stone to the new outside?

It should come as no surprise that

Old ghosts can haunt new habitat.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Cashew Turns 37 - LP Zoo

Thirty seven years old, Cashew,

The oldest member of your troop

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

All chimp secrets - you've got the scoop.

You have been around long enough,

From other chimps you get respect,

And don't tolerate any guff,

And make that known very direct.

All know you're irritated when

There's seen a lot of the bristling

Of the grey whiskers on your chin.

The troop's attention that does bring.

Cashew, have a Happy Birthday.

You are the best, chimp, chimp hooray.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Two for the Road

Where do we go from here, my dear?

In what direction shall we roam?

Entirely our choice to steer

The way of our mobile home.

Fiftieth anniversary

Of marriage, we two took a vow

To take a trip through the country,

Enjoy together, here and now.

And what a trip we have been on,

Oldies but goodies living new,

Memories of yesterdays gone,

We've done so much and more to do.

The when to go will be bestowed,

The next adventure down the road.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Glacier Ice Worm

An animal extraordinaire

The small glacier ice worm does be.

Freezing temperature it can bear,

The how is still a mystery.

Measuring 'bout a half inch long,

And thin as threads of dental floss,

The ice worm in vast numbered throng

Dot the glacier surface across,

Seeking algae to feed upon,

During the dark hours of night,

And then disappearing at dawn,

Back in the glacier out of sight.

Glaciers are melting very fast.

Soon, ice worms something from the past.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Quokka

I'm a quokka, known for my smile.

A small marsupial I be

On west Australia's Rottnest Isle

Where you can come and visit me.

But come and visit me at night.

Being nocturnal, I sleep days,

And do so keeping out of sight,

Under large plants with prickly ways.

At night look for me eating lunch,

Grasses and leaves my fav'rite chows.

I stay busy eating a bunch,

And then I chew my cud like cows.

Humans find me simply too cute,

A fact that I will not dispute.