After today’s bad news, I needed something different. An area I haven’t explored yet, (though I’ve been all around the outside) is the St. Louis Zoo (one of the best in the world, and free admission). The Zoo is one of the main reasons people visit Forest Park (they don’t seem to realize the rest of it is even there), but it is a very good reason.

It's a light and tumble journey from the East Side to the park;

Just a fine and fancy ramble to the zoo.

But you can take the crosstown bus if it's raining or it's cold,

And the animals will love it if you do ...

The monkeys stand for honesty, giraffes are insincere

And the elephants are kindly but they're dumb

Orangutans are skeptical of changes in their cages

And the zookeeper is very fond of rum

Zebras are reactionaries, antelopes are missionaries

Pigeons plot in secrecy, and hamsters turn on frequently

What a gas--you've come and see, At the zoo.

Paul Simon

Here’s what I found.