Wordbirds, 62

AT LAST—We’ve now commenced our third—and final—journey through Webster’s 3rd. This time, I’m picking a word near the middle of each entry for each letter—a word that interests me for some reason or a word I’d not ever known before—and surrounding it with a frayed coat of doggerel.

Words that flew into my life from Webster’s 3rd

jocko noun

chimpanzee

When Jocko found that he was free—

Escaped the zoo! From tree to tree

He swiftly swung with artistry.

And then heard Tarzan cry aloud:

“It’s Cheetah! Oh, I’ve long avowed

To find him, Jane!” But in a crowd

Of branches Jocko swiftly fled—

He knew that Cheetah long was dead,

Regret and sorrow filled his head.

He found a woman—sight to see!

And said, “So will you marry me?”

“To you? But you’re a chimpanzee?!”

“No, I am Jocko!” Jocko cried.

“I’m not a chimp!” (Of course, he lied.)

And she said no—at least he tried.

And Jocko lived for many years

In forests, where he had no peers—

And lived a life with laughs and tears.

He died surrounded—other chimps.

(Some were so old they swung with limps.)

And that’s our final Jocko glimpse.