Rattle Me This - Lincoln Park Zoo Poem by Ima Ryma

I be a rattlesnake, I be
A Mexican lance headed kind.
Come to Lincoln Park Zoo and me.
In the Reptile House you can find,
Coiled round myself or all stretched out
A meter or more of patterned scale,
Camouflaged with space I'm about,
From tip of head to rattled tail.
Each time I shed my skin I do
Add to my tail one rattle more.
So by the time my time is through,
Yes, I will have rattles galore.

Heat pits do sense what comes my way.
I will know when you're on display.