He accompanied his wife to the doctor’s appointment 

At 37 weeks pregnant, she was feeling disjointed 

The doc asked the husband: “It says on the chart that you are the city zoo’s executive director”

As the woman lay on the table like a dropped checker 

The doctor went on about how he loved the zoo 

He said, “I always wanted to be a zookeeper but my dad said that would never do

The pregnant woman wondered if the medical practice was a sham 

It was unsettling 

The husband commented, “Yes, I am” 

The two went on talking about exotic mammals and reptiles 

The woman felt some cramping meanwhile 

She and her husband tried to circle the conversation back 

But the doctor went on about how he once rode a yak 

The husband said to call for a free tour of the zoo – behind the scenes!

“But first make sure my wife delivers a healthy baby”

Three weeks later she did 

Became a full-fledged mom 

Her husband continued to direct the zoo 

And the obstetrician came through 

The three, plus the newborn baby – walked around the zoo to see the animals 

The director said, “You know what’s terrible?

That people are known by their roles

We aren’t just monkeys or moles or tadpoles” 

(At this, all those creatures looked his way)

The mole ate a banana; the monkey dug a hole underground; the tadpole took flight 

The newborn, the mama-wife, the husband-director, the doctor-zoo lover all communed and laughed 

Looking at a pink giraffe 

They got to know each other, as humans, and felt alright