We hit the zoo yesterday. If you've never been to the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, you must — youmustyoumustyoumust — go if you're ever anywhere near Omaha. It is consistently ranked best, best, best. Their conservation efforts are admirable, and the zoo foundation's mission is to preserve and protect wildlife all over the world. I love our zoo.
826 NYC
1. Take a big train
2. Stop at a smelly subway station
3. Take the stairs to the big zoo
4. Open the smelly door and see lots of animals
Written in Response to "Five Directions to My House" by Juan Felipe Herrara
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I hope Lizbeth had a marvelous day at the zoo. I love the idea of using "Five Directions to My House" as a prompt (need to file that idea and play with it) and love Lizbeth's take on it here.
I didn't have to take a big train to get to the zoo, but one thing is universal: it's all happening at the zoo.
P.S.
I must disagree with my beloved Simon and Garfunkel. I've never met an insincere giraffe and elephants are kindly, but they are not dumb. Please, boys.
Be sure to head over to Jane Whittingham's for the Poetry Friday round-up today.
13 comments:
This poem gave me a laugh. Thank you, Karen. Our zoo was one of the mainstays of, first my childhood, and then my mothering. I haven't been in far too long, homebound as I am. I miss it … 🕊️
Oh, elli, I wish I could take you! Wasn't that poem sweet? I hope for Lizbeth her trip to the zoo was worth all the smelliness. :)
Ha, Lizbeth intrigues me with her smelly door. A smelly subway station is not surprising, but what happened to the door? :) Yes, I would love to read your version of "Five Directions to My [?]." Super prompt!
Hahahahaha! That's a great direction poem. It's simple and yet so captures the mind of a child. I love it. OK, Nebraska is now on my TBV(visited) list. Your home state's motto cracks me up...and has made me want to visit, anyway.
* Tabatha, ha, I'm curious about the door, too. :) So cute! I'd love to read your version of that prompt too!
* Linda, yes, I think it's adorable. :) This state's motto is funny to me too. "It's not for everyone." So true in so many ways! I was an Air Force brat so I'm not from here — I've never actually felt like a Nebraskan (despite living here since I was 11 years old when my dad was stationed here.) But the zoo? A resounding yes for everyone. :D (And Omaha has some incredible restaurants too!)
Direction prompts! And smelly! Love this child!
Maybe that door is circling back to the “smelly subway station” so much packed in there, thanks.
Ah, the big truth that Lizbeth captured: the world is a smelly place, but there are doors to open and stairs to climb and lots to see.
The Columbus zoo is a pretty good one. We have a new baby Indian elephant that might warrant a visit once school is in session (oh, the joys of retirement!) and she's big enough to be in the outdoor enclosure. Our zoo, too, is doing its best with conservation and animal-forward living arrangements.
* Patricia, yes, what a sweetie!
* Michelle, the station undoubtedly harbors that smell, lol.
* Mary Lee, I love your summary: "doors to open and stairs to climb and lots to see." We saw some new-ish baby elephants with their mamas. They ranged in age from 18 months to 3 years, so I guess they were toddlers. Just little guys, ranging from 900-2400 pounds. :)
I did put a note in my notebook about that prompt. How fabulous is Lizbeth’s directions! I want to start writing poems with my grandson who is entering 1st grade this year. How can you resist a good zoo?! Thanks for this post and the throwback to Simon and Garfunkel.
What a fun post, Karen, and thank you for sharing this gem of a poem from young Lizbeth. Love Mary Lee's take. Also, I love that though we're all geared up to experience the "zoo" in words, we get the subway first - much to ponder there, perhaps! With your location, I can't help but remember how addicted I was to "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" when I was growing up way back when. I spent about four years volunteering with wolves at a local small zoo/rehab place in Georgia when I wrote my WOLVES book back in - gulp - 2008!
* Margaret, writing with your grandson sounds beyond grand. :) My daughter has recently gotten into some of Paul Simon's music, so Paul and Art have been on my mind. :)
Robyn, I remember Wild Kingdom, too. Every Sunday night, I think? Volunteering with wolves sounds like a dream come true. Such beautiful animals. (I wrote my first book back in 2008 ... "gulp" is right! How has it been almost 20 years?) :)
I LOVE Lizbeth's poem! Thanks so much for sharing. It conjures many sensory memories. :-)
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