This one is for the kids. Please share with them. (Photos & Poetry by Robert B.)
THERE’S A HIPPO IN OUR HOUSE
© Robert Burnham
There’s a hippo in our house
Just doing what he wants to do
He’s so big and round and fat
He’ll not listen to me or you
I told him he could not sit on
The couch, the beds or chairs
And now we have no furniture
Just some broken stuff everywhere
There’s a hippo in our house
Though you might think that is cool
There’s not one snack to be found
When I come home from school
Pretty soon that hippo
Will have to listen to my mom
Or he’ll find himself in Africa
Right back where he came from
There’s a hippo in our house.
The hippopotamus is a large creature, the third heaviest land animal on earth behind only the elephant and the rhinoceros. The skin of an hippo, called its hide, can weigh one half ton. There are two species of hippo. The large hippo, as shown here, is found in East Africa and unlike many other African animals, the population of hippos is growing. The smaller species of hippopotamus is the ‘Pygmy Hippo’ and lives in West Africa. The pygmy hippo has become very rare and is listed among endangered species.
Hippos can be very aggressive between one another and often fight over limited water space. Since they cannot sweat hippos rely on soaking in water and mud to keep cool. Large adult hippos can stay underwater for up to six minutes without coming up for air. Hippos use their tails to fling and spread their waste; either at one another in combat or to mark their territory.
Hippopotamus got their name from the Ancient Greeks, meaning ‘River Horse’. And the Ancient Egyptians believed that female hippos were goddesses.
"Y E A H - H I P P O S !"
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Comments: 80
LOL
Some suggestions for your upcoming animal poems/photo essay: kangaroos (funny and a funny name for silly poems); ducks (living proof that God has a sense of humour); pigs (what isn't funny about porkers); koala bears (their two thumbs on each hand alone are worth making fun of); platypus (anything so badly put together, seemingly from spare parts, has to get its own poem); beaver (for us Canadians, and they are funny in and of themselves unless the decide to build a dam beside your cottage, then you got trouble).
Of course, I'm sure you'll have your own ideas and I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job with them. Just getting my two cents in early.
I am going to print out this one and the other two for my nieces Karina and Tatiana 5 and 3 to see. I know they will enjoy them but will let you know for sure.
Thanks!
Remember my request for the monkeys ok??
You are a very skilled photographer. The shots of this big animal were outstanding. It must have taken lots of patience to get just the right shot.
You have so many talents. I'm proud to call you my friend.
No words about the pretty bird?
Barbara S.
Great photos, great poem!
This big kid liked it very much. ;)
Get busy snapping and writing, pal.
LOL
Please give these authors your support:
Coyotes Remember
Tropical Windfall
Blessings
BTW: Teachers are mostly, always right. And even when they're not right, they're still noble.
lol
Media Bytes Week 5
If any is interested, our zoo has the oldest living hippo in captivity. Here is a link about her birthday party
http://www.hippos.com/donna50.htm
http://www.evansvillecvb.org/media/index.tpl?ID=39&Display=Detail
I am still laughing at how he tired to say that
TY for sharing them.
I asked my older son what he thinks..
He gave this one the thumbs up buddy.
The younger one won't stop leaving the room when I try to read this one to him..
Sorry.