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Visiting the Hattiesburg Zoo and Kamper Park
Has brought many a delight over the years
From walking its pathways with my own tiny feet
To racing down them with my own little dears
The elephant that made it her home for so long
And the King of Beasts who lazily roared
Though etched in my mind from childhood, now are gone
And replaced by other creatures of the Lord
The Zebras and Ostriches in the African exhibit
Now make their home in Mississippi’s heat and dust
And the Tigers now pace our simulated jungle
While the gibbons and spider monkeys make a fuss
The cute little groundhogs are everyone’s favorite
While the kids poke curious heads out of their own tunnel holes
And the South American exhibit’s huge rodents and lamas
Compete for their attention with this tired old Mama
A trip to the zoo must have a ride on the train
As we view the ducks and swans on the lake
Such sweet relief for the feet of the energy drained
Without which the trip does not make
Though once free to enter by the poor and all
I suppose they set admission as low as they could
Yet like a butterfly out of her cocoon
The metamorphosis of the zoo has been good
The swings on the playground still swing as high
Though the equipment has changed a bit
And the memorial walk for those not forgotten
Are an addition with a blessing that fits
For many a child has visited this place
Grown up and moved away over the years
Though some return with wrinkled face
Others have gone on only to remain in survivors tears
The Hattiesburg Zoo at Kamper Park
Is a treasured place on our city’s map
For its memories have indelibly made their mark
On the faces that have graced many a Mama’s laps