At the Zoo

“We LOVE to watch the animals here,

And there is such an amazing variety

That observing them year after year

Keeps us from boredom and satiety.

“Look how they dash about their cage—

Holding their babies, giving them food.

They often act as though they’re on stage:

Some are loud; some more subdued.

“Some of their colors are flashy and bright—

Incredibly beautiful to the eye.

Some are less interesting—actually quite

Boring compared to the others nearby.

“They come in so many different sizes.

Look over there! He’s got a big head.

Watch out! That one is full of surprises.

That big one there is way overfed.

“At times they act a lot like us,

Nonchalantly sitting and staring,

Or making a wild and noisy fuss

With voices rising, tempers flaring.

“It’s interesting when they make funny faces

And screech, and grunt, and squeal, and ooh.

It’s good that they stay back a few paces;

If they got closer, who knows what they’d do?

“Sometimes it’s funny when they act silly,

Which they do quite often enough.

One expects them to be willy-nilly;

That is their style: to act off the cuff.

“When the sun sets, we always feel sorrow

As they retire. But what's to prohibit

Them from coming back here tomorrow,”

The chimps say as they gaze from their exhibit.

(7-16-14) By Bob B