MORNING GRAZE

When zebras start their morning graze,
They huddle cautiously,
There's no point being in a daze
Without the wits to see...
Who knows what lurks just out of sight?
What dangers lie ahead?
One sudden noise and all take fright,
Before they've even fed...

It takes some time to chew and chew
And chew and chew again,
With little else for them to do,
But look round now and then...
A fine to do, it really is!
Just munch down lunch each day,
You can't describe their life as bliss,
It's dreary, bleak and grey...

They're black and white, we know, of course,
Like penguins and magpies
And not like colours for a horse
And so, they've no disguise...
We don't see zebras smile a lot,
Too busy chewing stuff!
Exciting? No, it's really not!
A zebra's life is tough...


Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2014.


The poem is based on the magnificent painting by
Stephen Gayford, nb Google search gayfordgallery.

Find more wildlife poems using Google search
for the search phrase Stephen Gayford poetry.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford+poetry

Poem shared here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/morning-graze/

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/morning-graze/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/morning-graze

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/06/morning-graze.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/stephen-gayford/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-prince-of-prints-2/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-brush-with-genius/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gayford-gallery/

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in June 2014!

http://gayfordgallery.com/the-artist/

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

Click-a-pic!

http://gayfordgallery.com/original-paintings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalwatercolours/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalpencildrawings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/signedlimitededitionartistproofs/

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
(that's for the A to Z title listings)

blog website links:

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

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/stephen-gayford
http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.preloved.co.uk
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford

:::

FIRST BORN

The first born tiger cub that day
Had no idea at all,
Just like the rest, he chose to play,
To tumble and to fall...
In time, he learned to stand up straight
And look Dad in the eye,
Acknowledging his Dad was great,
Oh, my, oh, my, oh, my!

Yet tiger cubs must grow and grow,
That's just the way life is,
Who knew what strengths he had to show,
What things would go amiss?
His destiny was years ahead,
For now, he just chewed tails
And filled the other cubs with dread,
Like other alpha males...

Then came respect, less fights, less brawls,
Less bickering and such,
As if a time of miracles
Had kept them all in touch...
First born or not, his stripes were earned,
He did things well, somehow,
He's turned out right by what he's learned,
He's quite the tiger now...


Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2014.


The poem is based on the magnificent painting by
Stephen Gayford, nb Google search gayfordgallery.

Find more wildlife poems using Google search
for the search phrase Stephen Gayford poetry.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford+poetry

Poem shared here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/first-born-7/

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/first-born-7/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/first-born-poem

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/06/first-born.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/stephen-gayford/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-prince-of-prints-2/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-brush-with-genius/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gayford-gallery/

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in June 2014!

http://gayfordgallery.com/the-artist/

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

Click-a-pic!

http://gayfordgallery.com/original-paintings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalwatercolours/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalpencildrawings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/signedlimitededitionartistproofs/

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
(that's for the A to Z title listings)

blog website links:

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

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/stephen-gayford
http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.preloved.co.uk
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford

:::

BLACK WOLVES

The black wolves stretched their legs again
And crunched the new-laid snow,
Not knowing where, not knowing when,
Yet still they had to go...
For hunger pains drove them along,
While they had strength reserved,
For yet more food to keep them strong,
So life could be preserved...

Though Spring and Summer gave them hope,
The Winter took its toll,
There had been five that tried to cope,
Now only two could stroll...
Combining both their powers meant
The final two might live
And by survival to prevent
What Winter won't forgive...

So no more running fancy free,
No frolics in the sun,
They must outlive this misery
Until the battle's won...
Thus two black wolves walked day by day
And also night by night,
In search of creatures for their prey,
Starvation at its height...


Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2014.


The poem is based on the magnificent painting by
Stephen Gayford, nb Google search gayfordgallery.

Find more wildlife poems using Google search
for the search phrase Stephen Gayford poetry.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford+poetry

Poem shared here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/black-wolves/

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/black-wolves/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/black-wolves

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/06/black-wolves.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/stephen-gayford/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-prince-of-prints-2/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-brush-with-genius/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gayford-gallery/

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in June 2014!

http://gayfordgallery.com/the-artist/

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

Click-a-pic!

http://gayfordgallery.com/original-paintings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalwatercolours/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalpencildrawings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/signedlimitededitionartistproofs/

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
(that's for the A to Z title listings)

blog website links:

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

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/stephen-gayford
http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.preloved.co.uk
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford

:::

TWO BARN OWLETS

Two barn owlets had nestled close,
Companions for a while,
With lovehearts faces there to pose,
Carefree, each with a smile...
Adorned in wondrous gold and white
And such a sight to see,
Now resting gently after flight
Across the scenery...

United by a common bond
And now it served them well,
Without a clue what laid beyond,
Like us, quite hard to tell...
They had to bide their time to grow,
To learn a thing or two,
Then separate paths each one would go,
To do what each must do...

While loneliness is kept at bay,
Each soul may still rejoice,
Until there comes that final day
When parting comes by choice...
For life goes on, with adult themes,
When childhood is no more,
Perchance to nurture greater dreams
Than all that went before...


Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2014.


The poem is based on the magnificent painting by
Stephen Gayford, nb Google search gayfordgallery.

Find more wildlife poems using Google search
for the search phrase Stephen Gayford poetry.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford+poetry

Poem shared here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/two-barn-owlets/

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/two-barn-owlets/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/two-barn-owlets

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/06/two-barn-owlets.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/stephen-gayford/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-prince-of-prints-2/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-brush-with-genius/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gayford-gallery/

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in June 2014!

http://gayfordgallery.com/the-artist/

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

Click-a-pic!

http://gayfordgallery.com/original-paintings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalwatercolours/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalpencildrawings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/signedlimitededitionartistproofs/

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
(that's for the A to Z title listings)

blog website links:

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

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/stephen-gayford
http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.preloved.co.uk
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford

:::

BLUE AND GOLD MACAW

The blue and gold macaw looked round,
Surveying what was seen,
Above the forest trees and ground
Still vibrant verdant green...
And little knowing Man encroached
To cut it day by day,
Until the final time approached
And all was swept away...

For now, the birds had homes to build,
The last this land would claim,
For soon their hopes would end up killed
And Man's greed was to blame...
Macaws would live then fade out fast,
Like dodo birds decreased,
Man never harkens to his past
As he strides west to east...

If God looks down and lets Man be
To do the worst he can,
Is this His fatal destiny,
His purpose or His plan?
Or merely freewill without pause,
The proof of all Man's sins,
Before God judges us with laws
When Christ returns as Prince?


Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2014.


The poem is based on the magnificent painting by
Stephen Gayford, nb Google search gayfordgallery.

Find more wildlife poems using Google search
for the search phrase Stephen Gayford poetry.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford+poetry

Poem shared here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/blue-and-gold-macaw/

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/blue-and-gold-macaw/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/blue-and-gold-macaw

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/06/blue-and-gold-macaw.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/stephen-gayford/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-prince-of-prints-2/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-brush-with-genius/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gayford-gallery/

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in June 2014!

http://gayfordgallery.com/the-artist/

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

Click-a-pic!

http://gayfordgallery.com/original-paintings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalwatercolours/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalpencildrawings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/signedlimitededitionartistproofs/

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
(that's for the A to Z title listings)

blog website links:

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

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/stephen-gayford
http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.preloved.co.uk
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford

:::

DISTANT MOVEMENT

Snow leopards are quite rare today,
In fact, they're almost through,
Unless Man seeks to pave the way,
To do what he can do...
For now, this creature crouched alone,
On granite rock to poise,
A distant movement was now known,
The leopard had no choice...

For Man had intervened before,
Encroached upon its land,
In ways no leopard should ignore
If it knew what Man planned...
For Man could be its friend or foe,
Be callous or be kind,
Yet how on Earth was it to know
What each man had in mind?

And so each leopard, though sublime,
With beauty from its birth,
Faced unknown dangers all the time
Regardless of its worth...
For Man, the hunter, king and clown,
Called all the creatures his
And even when he let them down
Thought ignorance was bliss...


Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2014.


The poem is based on the magnificent painting by
Stephen Gayford, nb Google search gayfordgallery.

Find more wildlife poems using Google search
for the search phrase Stephen Gayford poetry.
Also search websites for Adopt a Snow Leopard...

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford+poetry

Poem shared here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/distant-movement/

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/distant-movement/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/distant-movement

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/06/distant-movement.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/stephen-gayford/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-prince-of-prints-2/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-brush-with-genius/
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gayford-gallery/

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in June 2014!

http://gayfordgallery.com/the-artist/

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

Click-a-pic!

http://gayfordgallery.com/original-paintings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalwatercolours/

http://gayfordgallery.com/originalpencildrawings/

http://gayfordgallery.com/signedlimitededitionartistproofs/

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
(that's for the A to Z title listings)

blog website links:

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

Framed pictures can be bought from UK websites:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/stephen-gayford
http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.preloved.co.uk
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Stephen+Gayford

:::