DRINKING SESSION

Behold the mighty elephants
Now standing side-by-side!
Af if they all were drinking friends,
With all mouths opened wide!
With loud guffaws and 'One more, please!
And let's come back real soon...'
As if their lives were such a breeze,
They'd sing a merry tune!

They've wet their whistles, that's for sure,
Those elephants with trunks!
And if that water wasn't pure,
They'd all be drunk as skunks...
But water's good enough for them!
That sun is way too hot!
Yet a wee drink solves that problem,
'Ah, yes, that hits the spot!'

Behold the mighty elephants
Still splashing here and there!
And yet all life on this depends
And water's sometimes rare!
They lap it up, 'Let's seize the day!
Let's party, while life's good!'
In fact, they had so much to say,
They woke the neighbourhood!

Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2011.

My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Drinking Session'.

More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/drinking-session/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/drinking-session

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/10/drinking-session.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Update: My poem, 'An Ode To Stephen Gayford'
is featured in the website's News Section!

http://www.gayfordgallery.com/news.htm

There's also a Guest Book!

http://users2.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g25-52612-21

The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:

poemhunter.com links:

http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2

blog website links:

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com
http://tinyurl.com/stephen-gayford-poetry

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

SILENT SWIMMER

When solemn evening faded in
In this new neighbourhood,
The Bengal tiger waded in,
As silent as he could.
Amid the water, still quite warm,
His head was sailing high.
The water swirled around his form
As he swam slowly by...

The Bengal tiger all alone
Must find food by himself,
Preserving still that heart of stone
With wisdom, guile and stealth...
The secret swimmer swam that day,
Starvation deep inside...
For hunger never fades away
Till food has been supplied...

His eyes were seeking food to eat,
So silence was his friend,
For in the hunt he must compete
And on his skills depend.
No fish must scatter in alarm,
No bird must fly or flee...
No nearby creatures sense the harm
Of what was meant to be...

Denis Martindale, copyright June 2011.

My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Silent Swimmer'.

More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/silent-swimmer/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/silentswimmer

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/10/silent-swimmer.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Update: My poem, 'An Ode To Stephen Gayford'
is featured in the website's News Section!

http://www.gayfordgallery.com/news.htm

There's also a Guest Book!

http://users2.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g25-52612-21

The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:

http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2
http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Each rhino stands a bulky beast,
My word, they sure stand out!
They start off big, then they're increased,
Then spread their weight about...
Yes, heavyweights, that's how it is!
Their strength self-evident...
To them, their weight seems not amiss,
That's just the way it went!

The rhino's horn is his defence,
It's like an afterthought...
Against the ones who aren't his friends,
So that he won't get caught...
And at forty miles an hour,
Well, you try matching that!
Who can comprehend his power?
With one foot he'd squash you flat...

No wonder that he eats a lot,
So he can run at length...
He's fat, yet doesn't care one jot,
He must keep up his strength!
Well, I'm glad I'm not a rhino,
As bulky as can be...
'Cos I'm quite thin in fact and so
I'm happy being me!

Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2011.

My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Heavyweights'.

More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/heavyweights/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/10/heavyweights.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Update: My poem, 'An Ode To Stephen Gayford'
is featured in the website's News Section!

http://www.gayfordgallery.com/news.htm

There's also a Guest Book!

http://users2.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g25-52612-21

The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:

poemhunter.com links:

http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2

blog website links:

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com
http://tinyurl.com/stephen-gayford-poetry

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

IN DEEPEST SHADOW

White tigers live until their time,
Yet, uptil then, behold...
For each was born to look sublime,
Like silver, not like gold...
The Bengal tigers aren't like these,
Black stripes against the white...
As if created just to please,
Inspire and delight...

There's such a blessing in their eyes
That stare with topaz blue,
Like tanzanite or pale sapphires
Each time they look at you...
Respect for them just grows and grows,
As if that's meant to be...
Not that you'd want to stand too close,
To gaze on royalty...

Behold the magic that they cast,
In deepest shadow's spell...
As dusk approaches till it's past
And daytime bids farewell...
Beneath the moon, their eyes shine on,
Like beacons in the night!
Until the next day's sun has shone,
Revealing black and white...

Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2011.

My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'In Deepest Shadow'.

More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-deepest-shadow/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/in-deepest-shadow

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/10/in-deepest-shadow.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Update: My poem, 'An Ode To Stephen Gayford'
is featured in the website's News Section!

http://www.gayfordgallery.com/news.htm

There's also a Guest Book!

http://users2.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g25-52612-21

The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:

poemhunter.com links:

http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2

blog website links:

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com
http://tinyurl.com/stephen-gayford-poetry

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

IN HOT PURSUIT

The tiger rested, gently laid,
Now in a placid mood,
Until his belly sighed dismayed
In hopes of some fresh food...
So up he stood and stretched a while,
His hunting ears alert
And gone that tiger's placid smile,
For main course and dessert...

He slowly trod the ground he walked
With one intent in mind,
For his next meal would soon be stalked,
As he sneaked up behind...
The chase was on! He saw his prey!
His coat was now a blur!
His next meal mustn't get away!
No, no! That can't occur!

So like the wind that strikes the earth
With storms of utmost rage,
In hot pursuit his mighty girth
Sped to its fastest stage!
Then in the blinking of an eye,
The dirty deed was done!
To stave off each new starving sigh...
One fed, he heard not one...

Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2011.

My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'In Hot Pursuit'.

More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-hot-pursuit-3/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/inhotpursuit

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/10/in-hot-pursuit.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Update: My poem, 'An Ode To Stephen Gayford'
is featured in the website's News Section!

http://www.gayfordgallery.com/news.htm

There's also a Guest Book!

http://users2.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g25-52612-21

The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:

poemhunter.com links:

http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2

blog website links:

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com
http://tinyurl.com/stephen-gayford-poetry

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

PILLOW TALK

When meerkats taunt their predators,
They lounge upon the ground...
As if to say, 'You can't catch us!
We each hear every sound...
And we've got eyes that see for miles,
Each day from east to west...
You'll always see us full of smiles,
As we know we're the best!'

That's why the meerkats feel so close
And cuddle up real tight...
They know it aggravates their foes,
From whom they soon take flight!
'Yeah, bring it on! Come, on, just try!
Just see how far you get!
We're feeling great! We're feeling spry!
We're really not upset!'

The meerkats smirked as meerkats do,
To them, it's one long laugh!
They take the longterm point of view
And don't do things by half...
Together now, they're quite a team,
All cosy lying there...
They're proud to be living the dream,
With sunshine everywhere...

Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2011.

My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Pillow Talk'.

More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pillow-talk-7/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/10/pillow-talk.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Update: My poem, 'An Ode To Stephen Gayford'
is featured in the website's News Section!

http://www.gayfordgallery.com/news.htm

There's also a Guest Book!

http://users2.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g25-52612-21

The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:

poemhunter.com links:

http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2

blog website links:

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com
http://tinyurl.com/stephen-gayford-poetry

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

FAVOURITE SON

If you can learn what must be learned
As lions like to do,
Then one day, what respect is earned
When others look at you...

If you can leap and pounce at will
And growl a mighty roar!
Then surely life would prove a thrill
And who could ask for more?

If you can stalk your prey ahead,
Outwit it every time,
Then you and others can be fed
With fresh food so sublime...

If you can pace yourself each day
And yet remain aware,
Then who cares what the others say?
Don't worry, let them stare...

If you can find a lioness
With fire in her eyes,
Yet looks at you with happiness,
You've found yourself a prize...

If you can show a father's love
To each and every one,
Cherish your diamonds in the rough,
When you're a lion, my son...

Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2011.

My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Favourite Son'.

More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/favourite-son/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/favouriteson

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/10/favourite-son.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Update: My poem, 'An Ode To Stephen Gayford'
is featured in the website's News Section!

http://www.gayfordgallery.com/news.htm

There's also a Guest Book!

http://users2.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g25-52612-21

The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:

poemhunter.com links:

http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2

blog website links:

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com
http://tinyurl.com/stephen-gayford-poetry

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

SIBERIAN MAJESTY

Behold the special majesty,
It's truly quite sublime!
The tiger has such dignity
It lasts the test of time!
For like a giant, he surveys
The land in his domain,
Such that his sovereign will outweighs,
Come sunshine or come rain...

Behold the special self-control,
As he strides to and fro,
As if there lives a gentle soul,
As on a stroll would go...
Yet he has skills and courage, too,
Against the foes he finds,
Enough to say, 'I'm warning you...
Or watch me change your minds!'

Behold the special royal stance
That uncrowned kings possess,
With strength and wisdom to enhance
And grant their sweet caress...
Of all God's creatures, he's first class!
He's the cream of the cream...
While years may come, each one to pass,
Each month, he stands supreme...

Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2011.

My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Siberian Majesty'.

More Stephen Gayford poems here:

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com

The poem is a tribute to the Stephen Gayford calendar
as sold on the bid tv Collectibles Club events on Sky.
The Siberian Majesty picture is one of this collection.

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/siberian-majesty/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/siberianmajesty

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/10/siberian-majesty.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Update: My poem, 'An Ode To Stephen Gayford'
is featured in the website's News Section!

http://www.gayfordgallery.com/news.htm

There's also a Guest Book!

http://users2.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g25-52612-21

The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:

http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2
http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com

Search poem titles and keywords here:

http://tinyurl.com/stephen-gayford-poetry

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

BID TV'S BIRTHDAY!

Well done, surviving all this time
With bargains day by day!
With Megadrops that look sublime,
'Cos there's much less to pay!
I've saved a fortune, yes, indeed!
I like to go compare!
I've bought much more than I could need,
That's why some gifts I share!
With Stephen Gayford prints galore
And watches week by week,
Enough to open up a store
With items quite unique...
With bedding and with curtains, too,
With shoes and clothes and such,
No wonder that I like Freeview...
Yes, thank you, oh, so much!
You've done us proud! It's true to say...
You've thrilled us to the core...
God bless you on your birthday!
May you have many more!

Denis Martindale, copyright, 7th October 2011.

The poem was read out on the bid tv channel,
shared by Charlie and Jules and thanks to a
Freeview recording of this, the poem can be
found on youtube.com (denismartindalebidtv).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeKwQiSorDA

PAPYRUS FONT DEMO

Stephen Gayford fans may recognise

that the picture titles on their

Stephen Gayford framed artwork are

using the Papyrus font and this is

how it would look, using one of the

lion tribute poems such as MY HERO.



http://tinyurl.com/my-hero-demo



I tested and used the Papyrus font for

a new webpage with a black background

using the yellow and gold text for it.

From this, I then created the gif image

and it was then easy enough to use it

instead of all the extra HTML editing.

Even though it required a large image,

the gif format was just 40 kb in size.

A central 770 pixel width helps the

standard 800x600 PC screen displays,

if the leftmargin is set as 0 and the

rightmargin is set as 30 for the demo.

So that loads up very quickly for us.



Regards, Denis Martindale.