SIESTA TIME

The lioness was much more wise
Than two cubs in her charge,
For one of them had droopy eyes
As sleep was looming large...
His little head was heading south
And Mum was smirking now,
A crooked smile across her mouth,
A frown upon her brow...

The other cub was somewhat still,
Propped up with sturdy limbs,
But pretty soon he'd lose the will
Just as the sunshine dims...
But sleepy head was sinking fast,
His jaw upon the rocks,
His eyelids heavy at half mast,
Like gormless Goldilocks!

Mum shook her head yet didn't growl,
He had to learn one day,
He had no need to fight just scowl
To scare something away...
Just bare the teeth, just stare them out,
Make sure they know he's cross!
No need to chase them all about!
Just let them know who's boss!


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2012.

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

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

More Stephen Gayford poems here:

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/siesta-time-2/

Printer-friendly text version:

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Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/siesta-time

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2012/09/siesta-time.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Youtube video: http://tinyurl.com/gayfordgallery-dot-com-video


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

NIGHT WATCHMAN

The leopard's eyes scanned left and right,
As sunshine faded fast,
For soon would come the moon and night,
When one more day had past
And eyes must now be on alert
With instincts borne to bear,
In case there was a need to spurt,
Escaping fast elsewhere...

The leopard's eyes were cooling down
As twilight gathered close,
As clear blue skies turn somewhat brown
And brilliant sunshine goes...
The air has felt a sudden chill
That creatures know full well...
The moon ascends on yonder hill
And casts its silver spell...

The leopard's eyes observe the scene,
The scene he's seen before,
The coming of the in-between,
The timing ever sure...
Night watchman, waiting, instincts taut,
Aware of everything,
Avoiding dangers as he ought,
That's how he's stayed the king...


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2012.

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

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Night Watchman II'.

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/night-watchman-5/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/night-watchman-5/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/night-watchman-poem

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2012/09/night-watchman.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Youtube video: http://tinyurl.com/gayfordgallery-dot-com-video


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

INFANT OF THE SNOWS

Snow leopard cub, just lying there,
At present, all alone,
With no-one else nearby to care
Your bed is made of stone...
With snow a-falling close to you,
How long will you stay warm?
And what on Earth can small cubs do,
If there should be a storm?

Snow leopard cub, just lying still,
Your small white nose so cold,
Do you possess an iron will,
The patience to grow old?
Have you the courage to endure,
The true grit and reserve?
If yes, then may God grant you more,
If you can hold your nerve...

Snow leopard cub, should I draw near?
Have you the will to live?
Is your young heart now filled with fear?
New hope I hope to give...
To wait a while, would that be wrong?
I have some food to share,
Yes, here it is... Eat up, be strong...
Take heart, do not despair...


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2012.


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

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Infant Of The Snows'.

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/infant-of-the-snows/

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http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/infant-of-the-snows/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/infant-of-the-snows

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2012/09/infant-of-snows.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Youtube video: http://tinyurl.com/gayfordgallery-dot-com-video


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

THE DRIFTER

The wolf was not too keen to mix,
A drifter, nothing more...
And his own company he picks,
As if he knows the score...
Responsibilities dismissed,
Discarded out-of-hand,
They could not help him to exist
In water or on land...

He checks the water carefully,
Avoiding pain and strife,
As if he wanted certainty
Through each day of his life...
On his own a hundred rainbows,
On Earth, beneath the sky,
The drifter chose this path he goes,
No family nearby...

He drifts just like the sun by day
And like the moon at night,
Alone, yet choosing come what may,
No conscience as a guide...
To him, life is no funfair ride,
No easy path to stroll...
The drifter has no sense of pride...
The drifter has no soul...


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2012.

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-drifter-5/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/the-drifter-5/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/the-drifter-poem

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-drifter.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Youtube video: http://tinyurl.com/gayfordgallery-dot-com-video


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

SNUGGLE UP

The Panda Mum was holding tight,
The cub squashed like a grape
And while she smiled with pure delight,
The cub could not escape!
His lips askew, all Elvis like,
His eyes looked near to pop!
He had no strength to counterstrike
And hoped that she would stop!

Her hugs went on from left-to-right,
His whiskers followed suit,
His mouth closed shut, no space to bite,
Yet that was not astute...
His Mum was acting like a lout...
In shock, the small cub froze...
How long could he just wait it out?
His nostrils way too close!

But patience is a wondrous thing...
It helped to see him through!
She walked off with him wondering
What next his Mum would do!
But when he saw his Mum depart,
Something inside him yearned...
For he loved her with all his heart...
Until his Mum returned!


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2012.

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/snuggle-up-2/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/snuggle-up-2/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/snuggle-up-poem

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2012/09/snuggle-up.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Youtube video: http://tinyurl.com/gayfordgallery-dot-com-video


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

TIGERNATION

Within the land where tigers roam,
Some people spot their stripes
And on their PCs while at home
Perhaps they share their Skypes,
Perhaps they upload photographs,
Or videos they've made,
Beyond their times when they've had laughs
From some new escapade...

Some share their tiger images
Online for all to see!
For zoos and schools and colleges,
For fans like you and me...
And software then comes into play,
Identifying cats,
As they go prowling day-by-day...
Like they're aristocrats!

Thus tigernation's website grows
With images galore,
So many that one hardly knows
How many tigers roar!
The tigerfacts and articles
Are there, so please peruse,
Just pause a while as each enthralls
And share your points of views...

When you find each tiger's profile,
Will you check stripes and stare?
Will tigernation make you smile
At creatures oh so rare?
Will you support the work they do?
Will you support the team?
Will you help tigers, now so few,
Not simply think and dream?

If tigernation stirs your soul
And somehow warms your heart,
Perhaps it's time to take control
And try to do your part...
If tigernation helps you learn,
Please visit now and then...
Such is the tale of their concern,
They'll welcome you again!


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2012.

Website:

http://www.tigernation.org for news and views,
what you do then, is yours to choose...

COOL WATER

As if cool water called his name,
The tiger had obeyed,
Remaining calm as his first aim,
Thus by cool water laid...
Upon the rocks he flicked his tail
A little less and less,
For beauty spots like this can't fail
To spread some happiness...

The tiger spread his weight around
With tooties to one side,
As if his Shangri-La had found
And here he would abide...
No other creatures dared approach
The growling so-and-so,
Now settled like a real slow coach
Who didn't want to go...

Cool water soothes the savage beast,
That's just the way it is,
Now from the greatest to the least,
Seduced by utter bliss...
Well, good for him! I'll give him time
Before I take my bath...
With patience, it could be sublime
And not my epitaph...


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2012.

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cool-water-2/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/cool-water-2/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/cool-water-poem

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2012/09/cool-water.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

Youtube video: http://tinyurl.com/gayfordgallery-dot-com-video


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