Turtle On Call - Lincoln Park Zoo Poem by Ima Ryma

An ornate box turtle I be,
New hatched at Lincoln Park Zoo.
The Lion House is home for me -
No lyin'! - Behind the scenes I do
Be waiting for a year or so,
Until the keepers deem me fit,
Off to the prairie I will go
To do my save my species bit.
For the good I was born and bred.
I'm sure that all is going well
To meet the challenges ahead,
A whole new world outside my shell.

When the opportunity knocks,
I think outside my ornate box.