Angi and I took our daughter Laura, 12, and her neighbor Caroline, 9, to the annual ‘Boo At The Zoo’ last night. Matt, at 15, is too old for such tomfoolery while there are video games and an operating X-Box 360 in his room.
He missed a great time, though.
At ‘Boo At the Zoo,’ though most of the animals are asleep, you will see all kinds of colorful creatures going from tented booth to booth trading tickets for treats … eating funnel cakes and corn dogs … riding carnival rides and the Little Rock Zoo’s long-time attraction, the miniature choo-choo. LOTS of colorful creatures. Dozens and hundreds and thousands as the night grows darker and the lines grow longer.
It’s a real zoo!
They pass giant wire-frame sculptures of spooks and jack-o-lanterns. To pass the time in lines, they see glowing pumpkin patches and “cemeteries” alight with skeleton-topped “tombstones” that all read:
R.I.P. Ashes to ashes / Dust to dust / Here lies someone / I wouldn’t trust.
The tombstones are cute … the first time. But there are dozens of them, all over the zoo, and they all read the same!
So the would-be writer in me got to thinking (as we waited in line for treats and rides): “What if they were different? What if they were funny epitaphs like the bizarre ones people used to have, with names that sounded like animal names?”
And this is what I came up with:
| ELLA FANT She traveled slow Her life well-spent She’d always go Where her trunk went. |
MYNA BYRD Her songs and cries Always enthralled But to the skies Her soul was called. |
CUBBY LYON Too young for wife, Too small for friend, The circle of life His life did end. |
| PEL E. CANN To fish – he can To fly – he can To cry – he can To die – he can. |
P. KOCK For many eyes He’d flash his plumes But now he lies ‘Midst flowers’ blooms. |
R.A. COON A mask so smart He always wore He’d steal your heart But is no more. |
| JER. AFFE He was quite tall And quick of tongue He took a fall … Now he’s just long. |
B.A. BOONE When aped at sport He’d take a ribbin’ To rude retort He was not gibbon. |
POOR Q. PINE A prickly quill He’d always wield Yet to Death’s will He had to yield. |
Okay, probably too weird and morbid for most kids … and many adults ….
What do you think? Worth suggesting to the folks at the Zoo?
Blog In My Own Eye 
Heh. Cute, Keith.
I am glad you guys had a great Halloween. It is so much fun to see our kids enjoying the holiday. I think the zoo is a great idea. I enjoyed this post. Keep up the great work brother. I hope you have a blessed week.
I love taking my kids to the Zoo too.
Vote like your future depends on it IT DOES!!
Keith,I want to thank you brother for letting us all know about the new ZOE CD. I know this one is going to be wonderful. ZOE has so much talent in the group. I know that they have been an inspiritation to my life as I listen to them when I am traveling and even on Sunday mornings as the family gets ready for church. I have been thanking about you this week brother and hope you and your family have a fantastic weekend ahead.
lol … nice epitaphs.I lived in Little Rock half my life and never made it to Boo at the Zoo.
Keith, I know what I am thinking, but…well…after < HREF="http://keithbrenton.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-cant-always-blog.html" REL="nofollow">this post<>, I think I might be a little bit afraid to leave a comment…
You should send those to the zoo for next year! They are excellent!