I pause at last~
a rare celestial event,
like a comet or a clean inbox.
My files stare back,
feral little gremlins
named things like finalFINAL2
and use_this_one_maybe.
I take a breath.
The universe holds still.
Even my husband is impressed.
Then~
a miracle:
I drag one folder
into another folder
and nothing explodes.
Suddenly I’m unstoppable.
A digital filing phoenix.
A desktop deity.
A sorter of chaos.
And all it took
was pausing long enough
to remember
I’m actually in charge
of this digital zoo.
A pretty sunny day can start off with white fluffy clouds,
the bright blue sky becomes the big backdrop.
I love to sit and watch the white fluffy clouds,
as they dance across the bright blue sky.
Many times as I watch,
I see zoo animals walking by.
Then the thunder sounds off,
like a canon across the sky.
The day is going from pretty to dark,
is rain about to come in for a visit?
As the peaceful wind starts to pick up,
the birds fly to hide.
It has been hot and dry here,
everything needs a bath and a cool drink.
The flowers and trees welcome the rain,
as the pitter patter starts.
Come down slow they seem to say,
make the rain last for awhile.
my mom came to visit
we went on a walk to the park and
got lunch
we talked and talked
about our lives
reminiscing
catching up
and when the conversation stirred
to the time
we lived together in the city
next to the zoo
when we acted like animals
growling and screaming and clawing
and fighting
and fighting
and fighting
we both had nothing to say anymore
she couldn’t look me in the eye
walking jeweled beauty
feathers spread wide like headband
tourist in awe
Well... hello hello to you.
And a fine how do you do.
I've escaped from the zoo.
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
With a stroke of your brush,
the magic begins,
The lion grows fur and a
proud, golden chin.
The elephant trumpets and
steps off the page,
While a colorful parrot flies
out of its cage.
A blue dolphin leaps from a
bright painted sea,
And a furry brown monkey
swings down from a tree.
A tall striped giraffe reaches
up to the skies,
While a soft bunny hops as
the purple ink dries.
Every animal wakes with a
splash and a gleam,
In the magical book where
the pages can dream.
The gnu got the flu.
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
I never met a cat
That I didn't like
Until I met the terror
Who goes by the name of Mike
He's a walking tornado
Storms follow him everywhere
He thinks it's funny
Tearing up my favorite chair
I had to replace the cushions
And repair the wood
It's not a scratching post
I don't think he understood
He runs around the living room
Like it's a race track
Knocking over flower pots
Oh my aching back
He's not an ordinary cat
He has a furry mane
Please somebody help me
Before I go insane
I tried to be his friend
But all he does is hiss
How much longer
Am I going to put up with this
He used to be such a sweet kitten
When he was first born
Now look at his claws
And how much he has torn
I would call the nearest zoo
But I can't reach the phone
My sweet little kitten
Thinks I'm a giant bone
Based on Zoo News, Gorilla is in den for security reasons
Trapped in a cage, viewed as animals
Plot twist - they were actually humans
Mocked, laughed at, seen as jesters -
Except it wasn’t entertainment -
Just pure cruelty,
To them it was a joke,
For us it was a humiliation ritual
No autonomy, no freedom, no rights
They were reserved only for the whites,
Our skin was the target of bullying,
Disrespected, as if being black meant we were the enemy
To them we were,
To them we were ‘inferior’ -
Just a means to an end for their enjoyment -
Like a comedy show, where we are the comedian,
Except we don’t have to speak to be funny,
They saw our skin as a hilarity -
Their idea of fun, was our suffering
If the conditions were to kill us,
They would see it as a bonus,
Rating our deaths as if it were a performance,
Conditions in the cages were poor,
But the treatment of us - even poorer,
To the oppressor it didn’t matter, as long as they were continuously entertained,
They were happy
Grandma, the tortoise,
lived hundred forty one years
she witnessed many
animals generations
died at the San Diego Zoo
The orangutan eats a leaf
As delicately as the
Gazelle poops in the grass.
The black bear, tiger, rhino,
Lion, otter, hippo
Entertain while
The giraffe begs for treats.
You and I stroll carelessly
From cage to cave and back.
The vulture’s back for dinner,
The owl’s asleep,
The keeper’s got his eye on you.
Zoo visitors by the drove.
They come to see our caged animals.
~ Trust all have Stockholm syndrome.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Yes I have no bananas
but I've got a cashew or two
and a lovely bunch of coconuts
walnuts quite a few
an armful of almonds
plus peanuts for the zoo
oodles of hazelnuts
or filberts if you will
a plethora of pecans
pistachios are here still
no ands ifs or buts
I'd give my nuts
to you each morning
if I had my way
again in the evening
and at the end of the day
Zookeepers have the best jobs
They're surrounded by animals of every kind
~ Noah's number on speed dial
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention
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