We were at a children's party
He told me about his ukulele
When he played in front of audiences
People would shout out, "Did it shrink?"
He worked as a chemistry teacher
To get this going he explained
A study he did with his students
In primary school
The comparative neuroanatomy and
Neurochemistry of zebrafish CNS systems of
Relevance to human neuropsychiatric diseases
Despite differences in the development of the telencephaion
I said, "Blimey"
He said "Yeah"
We high-fived and grabbed another beer
As he walked to the kitchen
I high-fived myself
I fist-bumped a Minion stuffed toy
Sat on the sofa
I was pleased with my mental well-being
Categories:
zebrafish, humor, humorous, hyperbole,
Form: Free verse
Zany Z’s
Zany zoo of zaftig zebras,
Zarnder manes, zebus with ziffs,
Zip through zawns, zigzag with zest
Wearing zories and a zoster
From too much zimstern, zabaglione and ziti-
Zucchini, zwieback, zeppoles, and zeps;
Zillion zitherns of zirconia
Zinging on zephyrs for the zazzy
Zemni zealous zeal for Zambonis,
Zeaxanthin zaps zinc zombie zones,
Zoographer’s zest for the zygote Zen zenith -
Zaffer zecchino of zebra finch in zamia,
Zorse in the zoysia with zinnia zepplins
Zimmers ziffs filled with zindandel zeatin,
Zorillas in zoot suits zoom like zodiac zircons
Zebrafish zithers and zorse zoology
Zippity-do-da - ziplining zorros
Zero in on zonal zapateados zip codes
Zydecos zing with zuppa and zibibs
As zany zoo zonks out to zanza zills of Zzz’s.
12-12-20
11-25-22
Contest: Mile 21 Poetry Marathon
Sponsor: Mark Toney
20 Lines
All "Z" words authenticated in Merriam Webster
Categories:
zebrafish, animal, bird, crazy, food,
Form: Alliteration
Hear my special child’s alphabet features
Eagerly, he mumbles with sheer delight
a-ape; b-bear; c-cat… dear God’s creatures!
D-dove; e-eagle; f-falcon… birds of great flight
g-goat; h-horse; i-impala…all in Noah’s ark
j-jaguar; k-koala; l-lion… oh, what a sight!
m-monkey; n-newt; o-opossum; hey, they don’t bark
p-parrot, q-quail, r-robin; busy in their nests
s-snake; t-turtle; u-unicorn…hiding in the park!
v-viper; w-wallaby: do they hate pests?
x-x-ray fish; y-yellow fin tuna: swimming gaily
z-zebra and zebrafish together in animal fests…
Alphabet "perceiver" he’s become expertly
Reading, sounding, blending letters blissfully!
April 12, 2019
Edited on May 22, 2020
Honorable Mention, "BRIAN'S CHOICE Q,any form,any theme" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 5/23/2020.
Honorable Mention, "YOUR CHOICE h" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 5/17/2025.
Categories:
zebrafish, 1st grade, appreciation, child,
Form: Terza Rima
Here's a question that I wish
to ask about a zebrafish
No, not about how it looks --
I can use the Internet or books
I want to know just how despite
missing eyelids to block its sight
this little fish of black and white
manages to sleep at night
So I looked and found some information
regarding homeostatic regulation
And if you ask me what that is
I'll reply with this analysis
We see in most land-based creatures
this constantly occurring feature
That if deprived of sleep one night
animals tend to set it right
They make up their sleep the next few rounds
a trait the scientists call 'sleep rebound'
And now I have some news for you --
That's precisely what zebrafish do
As well, when asleep they float in place
as if they're staring off into space
They float horizontal or head up slightly
and I learned, they do this nightly
So, I'm happy that my wish was granted
~ and that zebrafish don't sleep slanted
Categories:
zebrafish, fish, mystery, sleep,
Form: Rhyme