Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Overlooking

Whether to overlook or not,

Stuff that is offensive to me

Does come up in my life a lot,

Since there's a lot in life to see.

When I was young, not much it took

For me to see to be convinced

I really could not overlook

Whatever got me so incensed.

But now as I get older, I

Tend to overlook more and more,

Mainly because most others try 

To overlook the crap I score.

How far my overlooking goes?

I always overlook my nose.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Snow Time for Mei Lin - LP Zoo

Mei Lin, red panda, pawing through

The piles of freshly fallen snow

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Some unknown stuff to get to know.

Oh so crunchy and oh so cold,

And oh so much of the white stuff,

Most ever for the three year old,

And worth exploring, sure enough.

And so Mei Lin paws through the white,

Her white whiskers leading the way,

Sensing the weathery delight,

Glad the snowfall has made her day.

The mission Mei Lin has in mind -

Fun buried in the snow to find.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Sands of Love

The males of cichlid fish do build

Sand castles in lake bottoms so

Dreams of fine mates might be fulfilled,

Drawing in the females to show

Off the sand castles males have made,

Uniquely each with broad mouthed jaw

To form sand castles that throw shade

In patterns females "ooh" and "aah."

And when forms a successful match

The sand castle is where the two,

The male cichlid with female catch,

Snuggle together and make woo.

Sand castle at lake bottom be

Where cichlids share matrimony.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Confusing

For decades this house is my home,

Though now I live in it alone.

Sometimes about my house I'll roam,

Unrecognizing of my own.

My children are concerned, I know.

I feel it when they visit me.

I hear them whisper I should go

To somewhere where more safe I'll be.

I guess it's part of getting old.

One's faculties can slip away,

No matter how I try to hold

Onto the me of yesterday.

I'm losing touch with what I had.

Losing myself does make me sad.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Snow is Here - LP Zoo

The snow monkeys are happy that

Some snow has come in '22

To play in in their habitat

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

The snow monkeys both young and old

Enjoy the white stuff on the ground,

Lots of cuddling up in the cold,

Furred arms embracing all around.

The snow monkeys have ways to share

Snow time amongst everyone,

With chilly white everywhere.

It is a time and place for fun.

The snow monkeys are all gung ho

Anytime, anyplace there's snow.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 A Sweet Deal

Lady of the evening, I

Do like my johns with tasteful ways.

Just call this call girl, Sweetie Pie.

This professional does amaze

In sale of wares by what I wear,

Cloaked in chocolate head to toe,

And a fruit basket in my hair.

And when my tasteful john does show

I do present a tasty sight,

And then in hunger games  we play,

Scoring delectable delight.

I am well worth the come and pay.

I guarantee without conceit

My services are extra sweet.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Two Swans Share Winter

In winter time, two swans do be

Together in the chilling pond,

Not yet iced up for he and she

To enjoy now, not what's beyond.

To live and love the moment well

Is what these two swans seek to do.

What's in the future, who can tell?

The now is what counts for these two.

Each winter comes, each winter goes.

The swans do share the best of each

That's happening now, for both knows

Their future time is out of reach.

Sharing winter, rarely apart,

Swan heads and necks forming a heart.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Adjusting - LP Zoo

This lioness is one gal who

Is ready for Chicago cold

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

All furred up in my coat of gold.

From South Carolina I came,

Where not so chilly winter is.

But I've adjusted just the same

To this Chicago winter biz.

Staying outside as oft I choose

Gives the guests the chance to connect

With me, there's warmed rocks I can use,

Providing a toasty effect.

Baby, oh yeah, it's cold outside.

I don't complain, I've got my pride.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Unhappy Camper

Sleeping under the starry night,

While camping in the woods alone,

I wake to something not quite right.

I am out of my comfort zone.

In my sleeping bag, up I gaze

And see the sky that's all star lit.

Just seeing the stars does amaze

Me, and I don't understand it.

Slowly I arise from the ground,

Seeing dark shadows of the trees.

My campsite - I look all around,

Testing my sensibilities.

Something is very evident.

Somebody has stolen my tent!

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Cookie

Cookie, the cook, while stirring dough

Is getting herself all stirred up.

A lifetime cooking - what to show?

Just a batch of frustration - yup!

Barely earning minimum wage,

In kitchen heat hell hourly

Does send Cookie into a rage,

Feeling she's wilting flourly.

For being an overworked one,

Cookie has saved nary a coin.

Before this cookie batch is done

A labor union she should join.

This is a thought that gets a rise

In Cookie - she will unionize.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Aurora Borealis

Aurora borealis be

Goddess of dawn on the north wind,

Sending her colored lights to see

By the gazing eyes that ascend

To watch the bright show in the sky,

Where art and science are a mix.

Solar charged particles, the why,

Polarized, ionized transfix

Those who happen in time and place

To be the beneficiaries

Of nature's majesty and grace,

Flowing above in arctic breeze.

Aurora borealis shine

In eyes of a beholder - mine.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Three for Lunch - LP Zoo

Near the beaver lodge, the ducks, two,

Wondered where the beaver was at

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Maybe inside his habitat.

And so the ducks quacked loudly till

The beaver finally came out.

Both ducks' noise suddenly did still,

Unsure of what came next no doubt.

But the beaver in a good mood

Invited the ducks to have lunch.

So while on wood the beaver chewed,

On some berries the ducks did munch.

A good time had by all for sure,

A good mix of feathers and fur.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Emma's White New Year - LP Zoo

It is now twenty twenty two.

The New Year has brought loads of snow

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

And Emma, the otter, does know

That one way for celebration

Is to dig into the white stuff,

An opportunity for fun,

And Emma cannot get enough.

For her the snow is a delight,

A fresh new toy in which to play,

Turning her whiskers tickled white,

For her a Happy New Year's Day.

A time and place that ought to be,

Snow lets Emma play otterly.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Betty White

Miss Betty White we will miss you,

A ninety-nine year well lived life.

With Allen Ludden, your love true,

Now heavenly husband and wife.

Over eighty years on T.V.,

First Lady of this medium.

Forever in reruns you'll be

In ev'ry household most welcome.

Best friend of animals you were

An advocate both long and strong.

The sharpest with a joke for sure,

And your timing was never wrong.

Sad end to twenty twenty one,

Betty White - you had a great run.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 In Vain

The dictionary says "in vain"

Means without successful result.

So if I live for worldly gain,

Whether easy or difficult,

Then do I live in vain or not?

If I break hearts of others so

I've more success in what I've sought,

More money made to tell and show,

If I cause others pain to get,

Then is not my life a success?

I don't feel why I should regret.

But way down deep I must confess -

Maybe a living success, I

Will go in vain the day I die.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 From '21 to '22 - LP Zoo

Twelve O'clock, pied tamarins do

A bringing in of the New Year

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Twenty twenty two does appear.

The tamarins this place and time

Take the opportunity for

Finding a limb on which to climb

For better view the fireworks more.

They see the sights and hear the sounds

Of the New Year celebration.

Overall hopefulness abounds.

The New Year will be a good one.

The pied tamarins join the call

For a Happy New Year for all.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Just for Me

The waves come crashing all around.

The ocean performs just for me,

With all of its majestic sound.

I pause to sense the symphony.

Crescendo in wave after wave

Like beating of a thousand drums,

Thunderously announcing they've

Welcomed this admirer who comes

To listen lone on the beach sand,

As the wave melodies do roll

Over and over, hitting land,

Music to touch my very soul.

I urge the ocean to play more,

And it returns with an encore.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Old Year Out, New Year In - LP Zoo

Bidding farewell to '21,

And welcoming in '22,

Gaboon viper is not outdone

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Her long tongue does dart in and out,

As she senses the excitement

Of the calendar change no doubt,

Past to future in the present.

On her own scale of one to ten

She does the countdown on the clock.

The old year now just a has been,

And the new year coming to knock.

Goodbye and hello said so fine,

The viper hissing auld lang sssyne.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Liberty Bell Ruby

The Liberty Bell Ruby be

Carved in 1976

To glow bicentennially 

In the celebration mix.

Made from the largest ruby mined,

Over eight thousand carats, it,

Worth two million bucks, was designed

For the occasion to befit.

Thirty five years later in time

The ruby was stolen away.

There were convictions for the crime.

The ruby's missing to this day.

Maybe someone, sometime, someplace

Will solve this missing ruby case.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Re"seal"utely - LP Zoo

This harbor seal does harbor lots

Of resolutions I might do,

So many resoluting thoughts,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

For the upcoming brand new year.

Just like for twenty twenty one,

As twenty twenty two does near,

I'm thinking of ways to have fun.

I am a resolute seal that

Having fun is the only way

To proceed in my habitat,

The better fun, the better day.

When having fun this seal does be

Knowing my life goes swimmingly.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Passing Time

The farming community came

Together a century past.

A new barn raising was the aim,

A well built structure that would last,

As life on the farm came and went,

As animals and plants would stay,

Sheltered within and quite content

In this haven each night and day.

The barn did serve its purpose well.

But came the time, no longer were

Any within its walls to dwell.

Time empty took a toll for sure.

Coming soon the old barn will be

Just a pile of wooden debris.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Blended In - LP Zoo

I am a Canada lynx who

Does like the game of hide and seek

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

I be a blender, so to speak.

Well aware of the colors that

Nature has blended in my fur,

I locate in my habitat

The rocky spots that match for sure.

And then I snuggle up upon

These rocks for a catnap to take,

Knowing blending phenomenon

Is quite "purr"fect for hiding sake.

Sometimes visitors do spot me.

How good a seeker do you be?

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Transforming - LP Zoo

With brothers two and sisters two,

The oldest sibling Patty is,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Top of gorilla sibling biz.

At nine years old she's 'twixt and 'tween

Being a kid and be grown up,

Challenging her daily routine.

It's hard being the oldest - yup!

Sometimes she wonders when she grows

What sort of a Mom will she be,

When she has children of her own,

All that responsibility.

Come less thoughts of a child, instead

More thoughts of a parent ahead.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Sunflower

When the young sunflower does bloom,

It tilts with the sun through the sky.

Studies of this do assume,

To get pollinators nearby

To feel the warmth of this flower,

And thus do visit as a guest,

Exemplifying the power

In the bloom's pollination quest.

When the sunflower does mature,

The urge for visitors has ceased.

Still wanting the sun's warmth for sure,

It stays pretty much facing east.

Each morn the sunflower is one

Set to welcome the rising sun.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Jabari on Christmas - LP Zoo

Jabari, lion, wishing you

A very Merry Christmas from

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo

Where humans are very welcome.

This lion does be lyin' near

A window where I can watch out,

And see you when you first appear.

We'll make the connection, no doubt.

Now when you do arrive you may

Catch me in a catnapping mode.

Please pause before you go away.

I'll have a wake up episode.

I do rub a rock with my paws.

For Christmas I'll have sandy claws.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Elfred

Tiz the season to be jolly,

One more successful Christmas Eve.

Old Elfred, the elf, by golly,

Looks at the clock and does believe

It's story time for all the elves.

Old Elfred reads to them each year.

The hard workers enjoy themselves.

Gone is Santa with the reindeer,

And now the elves have time to rest,

To hear some stories, and the one,

Old Elfred reading - he's the best.

The elves look forward to the fun.

Old Elfred does begin to read

Of a Merry Christmas indeed.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Flora's Up for Zoo Lights - LP Zoo

Flora is a porcupine who

Is up for the crowds at Zoo Lights

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Because Flora's awake at nights.

Being nocturnal, nighttime is

When Flora is in active mode,

Minding all of her daily biz

That's happening in her abode.

This being her first Zoo Lights here,

Flora at first was surprised that

Bunches of people did appear,

Gathered around her habitat.

Now Flora knows Zoo Lights for her

Means lots of "peep" watching for sure.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Sonnets from the Shakespeares

Yes Will, there was a moment that

I was a bit annoyed with you

After we had that little spat,

As married couples sometimes do.

But having hate for you - no way.

Something I know you realize,

Whatever mean words I might say,

It's a meaningless exercise.

But thank you, dear, for your concern,

As expressed in your sonnet fine.

I'm grateful in our sojourn,

Love, I have yours and you have mine.

Just remember my sonneteer,

No hate between us, my Will, dear.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 New Year Hope - LP Zoo

Jabari, Lion King, does hear

Coming of twenty twenty two,

Hopefully a Happy New Year

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Good New Year news that may be had

If Jabari does have his way,

Jabari will be a new Dad,

His new cub offspring on display.

Yes, roaring good news would be that,

And Jabari's roar surely heard

Throughout the lion habitat,

The sounding such good news assured.

So fingers crossed that the New Year

Will add to the lion pride here.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Keeping Keepers Wondering - LP Zoo

I'm a playful red panda who

Always wants my keepers to play

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Where there's a will there is a way.

I remember the fun times that

I'd get keepers to follow me

To the roof of my habitat,

Them thinking that I'd gotten free.

The keepers up on the roof while

Below them I'd be hanging out,

Giving them an innocent smile.

They did not like this game no doubt.

Playing games with keepers is fun.

I'll soon come up with the next one.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Nice Fairy Bluebird - LP Zoo

This fairy bluebird is one who

Is excited to count time down

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

I've been a nice bird the whole year,

And so am lis'ning for sounds that

Santa's sleigh led by his reindeer

Are landing on my habitat.

Then down the chimney Santa will

Be bearing gifts for us nice birds,

A Merry Christmas to fulfill,

With "Ho, Ho, Ho" his only words.

This fairy bluebird sings my call

For a Merry Christmas for all.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Daniel's Faith

King Darius of Persia did

Order that no prayers be said.

Those not doing what the King bid

Would to the royal lions be fed.

Daniel, a fav'rite of the King

Continued to pray to his God,

And doing this forbidden thing

Was ordered to be lion jawed

By the saddened King with no choice.

In the lion den for a day

An unharmed Daniel did give voice,

And to his God, Daniel did pray.

God sent angels to serve God's laws.

The angels closed the lions' jaws.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 No White Christmas - LP Zoo

Two sister lionesses do

A Christmas catnap on the grass

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

As holiday visitors pass.

No white Christmas in Chicago,

The sisters were hoping for that.

From down South they've never seen snow

In their previous habitat.

But the sisters can rest assured

That soon snow will come falling down,

And the lionesses all furred

Will snow play in Chicago town.

Last week of twenty twenty one,

The girls will get in some snow fun.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Filling In and Up for Santa

I remember one Christmas Eve,

"There's no Santa," I told my Dad.

Concerned that I did not believe,

After a bunch of beer he had,

And after I had gone to bed,

Dad got a ladder and climbed up

On the roof, thinking in his head

He'd be Santa with reindeer - yup!

I woke hearing a thumping sound.

"There is a Santa Claus," I thought,

Fell back asleep. From roof to ground,

Dad slipped and fell, drunk as he'd got.

With broken leg, Dad was relieved,

Cuz once again his kid believed.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Polar Bear Resilience

Sea ice has always been the home

Where polar bears could hunt and thrive.

But now polar bears have to roam

To warmer land so to survive.

Sea ice is melting very fast

Because of global warming change.

Old ways of polar bears can't last.

They need seek new ways, hard and strange.

Finding food and denning will be

Much different on warmer land.

There will be much adversity.

Polar bears can and will withstand.

Resilient, the polar bear

Will survive somehow and somewhere.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Cool Down - LP Zoo

Jamaican iguanas like heat,

And Lizzie is a lizard who

Often is found in a "hot" seat

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Under a heat lamp she does lay

Basking in all of the warm glow

Given by artificial ray

Warming up Lizzie head to toe.

When feeling overheated she

Does open up her mouth real wide,

Causing her body temp to be

Back to comfy for her inside.

An open mouth for Lizzie is

A way to mind her body biz.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 American Green Tree Frog - LP Zoo

American Green Tree Frog, I

Am just one of a species that

Is an abundant gal and guy

In the U.S.A. habitat.

In trees are where we like to dwell,

And do provide free pest control -

Tongue zap mosquitoes and flies well

In our food obtaining role.

Each year, March to October, is

When the guys "honk" to the gals for

Announcing up for mating biz

Resulting in new frogs galore.

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo

Is where I can be seen by you.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Colobus Baby '21 - LP Zoo

Welcome colobus baby, you

Are a holiday present fine

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Decked all in a white monkey shine.

Though all white now does be your fur,

As you proceed through your first year,

Just like your family for sure,

Your black and white fur will appear.

Close to Mom for a while you'll stay.

But soon she'll let her daughter go

More with your three sisters to play,

Leaping together high and low.

A welcome addition you be

To the colobus family.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Fixed

The Xray taken showed I had

A large dark shadow on my spleen.

Doc said most likely this was bad,

Some sort of tumor it could mean.

"Oh no, could it be the big 'C'?"

I asked the doctor, he replied,

"Yes, cancer is what it could be."

"To know, we need to look inside."

I left, but first I asked Doc for

A copy of my Xray so

I'd not be upset anymore

When this dark shadow did not show.

Bad became good news - a flipflop,

Thanks to magic of photoshop.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Set for Wet - LP Zoo

Gasby and Phraay stop play to do

Some grooming each other so that,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

They're primed for water habitat.

The Asian small claw otters' fur

Needs regular grooming to let

Little air pockets form for sure

To keep coats water proofed in wet.

And when each grooming chore is done,

Back to playtime the otters be

Enjoying underwater fun,

Well insulated otterly.

Gasby and Phraay do share groom chores,

"You groom my back and I'll groom yours."

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Be Coming

Born and raised in a lab I be

Of human and chimp DNA,

Resulting in me - humanzee.

Twenty four/seven on display

To a few human scientists.

There are some rumors that I am,

But no confirmation exists.

I am still a secret program.

Somehow, someday I will get out.

A public figure I'll become,

And controversial no doubt,

Over the mixture I came from.

My future may even present

A run for U.S. President.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Spread the Word - LP Zoo

Everyday dwarf mongoose do

A social networking routine

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Sharing together 'twixt and 'tween.

Keepers provide enrichment that

Keep the dwarf mongoose busily

Bustling about their habitat,

Seeking out opportunity.

When one mongoose does come upon

An enrichment that is no doubt

Something fun more should get in on,

The call is sent to come hang out.

The dwarf mongoose are mammals small,

But big on one sharing with all.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Nymeria - LP Zoo

Red wolf, Nymeria, does do

A game of hide and seek with me

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

She thinks she's hidden by a tree,

But I do give her a wave that

Lets her know that I have found her,

So she's off through her habitat,

For a better hide spot for sure.

I follow her to where she goes.

A bigger tree she hides behind.

Again I do wave and she knows

A big enough tree she won't find.

As if to say, "Okay, you win,"

She disappears into her den.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 The Woody Way

All stretched out on wood, Woody is

A Jamaican iguana who

Is good at minding his own biz

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

As human visitors stop by,

On his tree limb Woody holds court,

Just hanging out, one mellow guy,

Taking all in, a laid back sort.

Of course should a keeper appear,

Bringing salad for Woody's lunch,

Woody then gets himself in gear

And does accelerate a bunch.

Woody's routine most of the day

Is spent in a lounge lizard way.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Anne Sexton R.I.P.

Anne Sexton, poetess, would rise

To heights of poetry acclaim,

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Exuberance propelled her fame.

But mental illness demons held

Her hostage to the dark of life.

Within that space she too oft dwelled,

Not present as mother and wife.

In poetry she did confess

Her many improprieties.

But any hope turned more hopeless.

Her demons she could not appease.

In her car as fumes took her breath,

Anne Sexton traded life for death.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Winter Service

This maple tree has been around

For many seasons come and gone.

I feel the coldness in the ground,

Another winter's coming on.

But I am ready for this time.

In my trunk and my roots I've stored

Lots of starch that later will climb

As sugar through my sap, then poured

Out of holes drilled by humans to

Enjoy in maple syrup form.

It is a usefulness I do

To pass my time through winter norm.

Sharing my sugar sap does be

A winter ritual for me.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Buffy and Willow - LP Zoo

Ostrich girls, Willow and Buffy,

Are a couple of big birds who

Are down to Earth, never stuffy,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Welcoming all of the guests that

Come to visit the feathered pair.

They strut about their habitat

With lots of elegance and flair.

Each of the girls do understand

The bonding that humans expect.

So heads are never stuck in sand,

But always stretched out to "connecked."

Do come visit for fun fill show

Ostrich girls, Buffy and Willow.

Sense Sonnet - Acher

 Orpheus and Eurydice

Orpheus and Eurydice

Were two lovers in ancient Greece,

And vowed forever he and she

Share a love that would never cease.

So when Eurydice did die

Orpheus, still living, went to

Hades in an attempt to try

His Eurydice to rescue.

But his attempt to rescue failed,

And he returned to life alone.

But the murder of him availed

Reunion, a life and death postpone.

In death the two did reunite

The wrong of love apart made right.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 The Year Twenty Five Twenty Five

It is a time to travel space.

The spacecraft nears a planet that

Is theorized maybe a place

For life supporting habitat.

Past scientific data shows

Existence of life likelihood.

Reaching orbit the spacecraft slows.

Further test results are not good.

Once there was life apparently,

But  high radioactive score

Now permeates nuclearly,

Caused by some negligence  or war.

The year twenty five twenty five,

Nothing on Earth remains alive.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Pogo - LP Zoo

22 year old Pogo, new,

As a male pygmy hippo that,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Joins Annie in the habitat.

Annie did not like Howie so

Hopeful for a better match make,

Howie got replaced by Pogo

For chance of future offspring sake.

So far Pogo is doing well,

Giving Annie his best wooing.

Of course it will take time to tell

If there's a successful twoing. 

So fingers crossed that down the way -

Pygmy hippo, hippo, hurray!

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Breaking News Where I Do Live

The breaking news where I do live

Is that the water's flooding out.

My constant flow of cuss words give

A clue of how I feel no doubt.

My family is safe and sound.

I am very thankful for that.

But the ache in my head does pound

On the flood in my habitat.

Thought of need to evacuate

Causes tension to flood my mind.

I hear cries from the kids and mate.

But first a plumber I must find.

Yes, it is breaking news - no joke!

Film at eleven - toilet's broke!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Shine On

In summertime the sunlight be

A welcome when days are longest,

Bringing the vital energy

To the leaves when rays are strongest.

It is this time in each year that

The tree most needs help from the sun

To shine upon its habitat

So food production can be done.

The sunlight lets the leaves produce

All the food that the tree will need,

And be available for use

When there's no sun or leaves indeed.

Called photosynthesis and is

How the tree does mind its own biz.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Raindrop

The raindrop fell in form of rime

Upon the slab of granite stone

In the freezing of Winter time.

And then did come the Spring time zone

When ice turned back to water so

The raindrop left the granite and

Began gravitational flow

Toward the sea as Summer time spanned.

In Autumn time the raindrop did

Evaporate into the sky

To drop again as nature bid,

And as the seasons would go by.

Next Winter time the raindrop be

Dropped not on stone but on a tree.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Snowless Leopard - LP Zoo

Puzzled, snow leopard, Kennedi,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Wonders where is the snow that she

Expected by December to

Have seen the white stuff coming down

In piles, as she had been told that

Was normal in Chicago town.

She looks about her habitat,

Her new home here that she did make,

And sees a place that is snowless.

She does not see a single flake.

Did she move to the right address?

No doubt Kennedi will get her

Wish for a bunch of snow for sure.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Zoo Lights '21 - LP Zoo

Just moved in and recently new

As resident in time and place

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Lots of dif'rent stuff to embrace,

Now going on for holidays.

I hear humans call it Zoo Lights,

In dazzling, colorful displays,

Bringing loads of humans out nights.

It's fun to watch the humans here

"Oohing" and "Aahing" this and that,

All filled up with holiday cheer,

As they pass by my habitat.

I'm ever awed by human stuff.

This lioness can't get enough.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Drink Coca Cola

Coca Cola, invented in

Eighteen eighty five, did contain

Extracts of the coca leaf then,

Which plain and simple was cocaine.

The "cola" in the name did mean

Coming from the kola nut which

Did contain a lot of caffeine.

A "medicine" was one sales pitch.

All this was legal at the time.

Sellers of Coca Cola could

Make claims without proof and no crime.

Drink Coca Cola and feel "good."

The Coca Cola feel "good" claim

Soon did make it a household name.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Siku Goes Fishing - LP Zoo

Fish in the air does sniff Siku.

And so the polar bear posthaste,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Heads for where he knows he can taste

A keeper supplied nice treat that

Siku can fish for in the pool,

In the polar bear habitat.

The thought of fresh fish makes him drool.

With accurate, quick swipe of paw,

Siku does grab hold of a fish

That goes to bear mouth from bear claw,

A pass time Siku finds delish.

Going fishing is Siku's way

Of a for sure catch of the day.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Hank on Facebook - LP Zoo

Chimp Hank here saying, "Howdy do"

To all my Facebook fans out there.

When you visit Lincoln Park Zoo,

Connections face to face we'll share.

With the help of the keeper, I

Am sending this picture so that

You can peek at this handsome guy

Till you visit my habitat.

I'm looking forward to that time

When in person you do show up.

There'll be lots of reason and rhyme

To have a special visit - yup!

Until that future time and place,

Enjoy Yours Truly Facebook face.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 In the Spirit or Not

Bob Cratchit Fox in mood to sing

Some Christmas carols does take a stroll.

Tiny Tim Badger he does bring,

Good entertainment is their goal.

Through the woods the twosome do roam

Arriving at a tree to call

At Ebenezer Scrooge Owl's home.

But Scrooge Owl is not pleased at all,

Glaring at these carolers who dare

To disturb Scrooge Owl's privacy.

The two carolers just want to share

How special Christmas spirit be.

But Scrooge Owl hoots as if to say,

"Bah humbug, pests, just go away."

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Minato's Learning - LP Zoo

Snow monkey, Minato, peeks at

Mom doing some computering

With keepers in the habitat,

Hoping that quite soon Mom will bring

A treat out to her pride and joy.

Minato knows that Mom is smart,

Earning treats she shares with her boy.

For Minato that's the best part

Of this training that Mom does do

By choice in volunteering way

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

So close by Minato does stay.

Sure enough Mom comes over and

Puts a treat in Minato's hand.

Sense Sonnet - Tickler

 Walking the Floor

Wifey does mop the kitchen floor,

Tells hubby not to walk across.

Hubby walks, chooses to ignore.

Wifey shoots hubby, no big loss,

Laying there on the wet floor dead.

Time had come that his tracking stops.

Wifey remops where hubby bled.

And then wifey does call the cops.

The cops come, waiting outside and

Delay making the arrest task.

Their captain does not understand,

And approaches the cops to ask,

"Why has no arrest been made yet?"

"Because the kitchen floor's still wet."

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Lesson from Azizi - LP Zoo

I got a very close up view

Of gorilla, Azizi's face

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

He had a stern look set in place,

As though he was telling me that

A close encounter of my kind,

Where I was up close staring at

Him was annoying in his mind.

Azizi's point to me was made.

Just staring at his face was bad

Manners unthinkingly conveyed.

And a teaching moment was had.

Thanks Azizi for giving me

A lesson in propriety.

Sense Sonnet - Chiller

 Chance Encounter

A shark while swimming noticed that

A human was swimming nearby,

Fair game in the shark's habitat,

Menu item to qualify.

And so the shark directed fin

And headed for the human meal.

Attack strategy did begin.

For the shark it was no big deal.

But suddenly the shark was struck

Senseless by a gigantic tail.

The shark had encountered bad luck.

The human was saved by a whale.

The shark chose to swim on its way,

Gave up on this catch of the day.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Taking No Questions - LP Zoo

Hi - Thistle, Canada lynx, here.

Lots of humans do often ask

About the tuft atop each ear.

Is this hair for show or for task?

Maybe help hearing in some way,

Or help me detect things above.

Possibilities - who can say?

I just know the tufts are part of

The makeup of my body that

Others can look at me and see

When I show in my habitat.

Why the tufts are there - don't ask me!

Answer Your questions - I don't do

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Wrasslin' Down - LP Zoo

Mondika and Djeke, the two

Young gorillas, go wrasslin' at

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Rollin' all 'round their habitat.

Such fun can be tiring no doubt.

The pace of wrasslin' starts to slow.

Even youngsters get tuckered out.

And soon their wrasslin's in slow mo,

Wrapped 'round each other arm in arm.

'Round and 'round roll the young bro team,

Grabbin' all from this playtime charm,

Until each one runs out of steam.

But it won't be too long before

They're at fast paced wrasslin' once more.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Welcome Circle

The water falls from clouds above,

Another circle back to Earth,

A messenger of nature's love

Gifting again the water's worth.

The water once again will touch

So many lives as it flows by,

Being of usefulness so much.

On water all life does rely.

The water's journey takes it through

The rivers, chances to befriend,

As the rivers are flowing to

The oceans where this quest will end.

The water rises as skies greet,

This loving circle to repeat.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Roar for Attention - LP Zoo

Jabari, Lion King, does do

A roar to let his girlfriends know,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

The King does want the girls to show.

It gives the lionesses joy

To hear his roar admitting that

They are missed by Jabari boy,

All alone in the habitat.

The girls will wait a while before

They come in response to his call,

Content letting Jabari roar,

Heard all over by one and all.

After a while to boost his pride,

The girls come to Jabari's side.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 In Traffic - LP Zoo

White blotched river stingray, I do 

Share a pond with some turtles that,

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Are swim pals in the habitat.

Always in the water I be,

While the turtles come in and out,

But oft come swimming in with me,

Liking my company, no doubt.

Sometimes swimming, a thump I'll feel,

And see that it's a turtle shell.

I just keep swimming, no big deal.

No cops are called, no show and tell.

Living with the turtles is good.

We have a friendly neighborhood.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

 Steal Deal

Black Friday can come any day

For those of us who choose to steal.

Bigger biz looks the other way

While we make off with the free deal.

Bigger biz can afford to lose

Relatively few stuff we take,

And so the bigger biz does choose,

Our thefts no big deal to make.

Of course that means prices go up

For all the law abiding folk,

Who on Black Friday cram stores - yup,

Not knowing that on them's the joke.

Black Friday "deals" are for the nice.

We, the naughty, don't pay the price.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Kingdom of Freedom

The Kingdom of Freedom be where

Freedom gives opportunity.

King Freedom is the ruler there.

King's only rule is to live free.

We, the People, of Freedom must

Ever be able to defend

Attacks, immoral and unjust.

King Freedom's reign must never end.

We, the People, both young and old,

Must never let King Freedom lose.

Since "Freedom lies in being bold,"

Defense of Freedom We must choose.

As long as Freedom remains King,

We can accomplish anything.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 Body Language - LP Zoo

I am a male gorilla who

From time to time may beat my chest

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Openhandedly to suggest

That my body fitness and size

Is made known for others to score,

Giving them info to surmise

My advantage in love or war.

All those within hearing or sight

Can get a better sense of me,

As one for loving or for fight.

Signals sent, chest beating does be.

I use the body language way,

Getting it off my chest to say.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

 New Daughter - LP Zoo

A monkey furred all white comes new

To the colobus family

Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,

Adding a fourth to daughters three.

Just the latest for Mom and Dad,

A lot of children they have known.

Good parenting the kids have had.

Some have families of their own.

Mom will keep the babe close to her.

The other daughters want to "aid."

Mom will keep watchful eye for sure.

Maternal rules will be conveyed.

Mom has a lot of work no doubt,

While Dad sits back and checks it out.