Budding Mike - Lincoln Park Zoo Poem by Ima Ryma

My name is Mike and I do be
At Lincoln Park Farm in the Zoo.
I am a proud river birch tree
Doing my spring time stuff, I do.
Chicago's winter has been hard,
But now my leaves do bud so that
I, rooted, in the chicken yard,
Will shade my buddies' habitat.
Already the chickens look up,
Excited that their bud's abud.
Being the only tree here, yup,
All leafed out I'm one handsome stud.

Oh yes, the hens and rooster like
To take a shade break under Mike.