PHANTOM!

The wolf surveyed looks quite sublime,
As first impressions go,
When he's relaxed and takes his time,
Reflecting every glow...
The unaware can smile and stare,
As if there's nothing wrong,
But he's a wolf, so have a care,
Outsiders don't belong...

Admittedly the wolf looks kind,
Content when he's alone,
As if there's nothing on his mind,
Despite his heart of stone...
Still with a youthful sense of fun,
But let each man take heed,
That phantom's proved a wily one,
With cunning to succeed...

His ghostly silhouette once seen
Conveys a sense of awe,
But get too close and he turns mean,
Don't try to shake his paw...
Untamed throughout the centuries,
Some wolves remain the same,
The fact that they don't aim to please
Has proved their claim to fame...


Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2015.


The poem is based on the magnificent wildlife
painting by Stephen Gayford nb Google-search
gayfordgallery and "Stephen Gayford poetry".

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

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/phantom-15/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/phantom-poem

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/phantom-15/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2015/01/phantom.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

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

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in January 2015!

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,
NB use zoom-in feature when viewing pictures.

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

http://www.baato.co.uk/stephen%20gayford
(Various website sales of Stephen Gayford prints.)


:::

LYNX CUB

The lynx cub smirked just like a cat
That once I used to own,
With turned up smile it calmly sat
Content to pause alone...
With golden eyes and golden nose
It seemed to sense its worth,
But even beauty has its foes
When hunters prowl this Earth...

A prized possession, nothing more?
A conversation piece?
A piece of fur some might adore,
As if a golden fleece?
Gone forever or maybe stuffed,
Its head upon a wall,
A trophy of this lynx unloved,
A story to recall...

Each life must have its numbered days,
Yet trappers pay no heed,
To such as these there's no disgrace
To see this creature bleed...
Endangered creatures here and there,
Pot luck each day to live,
But much less hope if we don't care,
A second chance to give...



Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2015.


The poem is based on the magnificent wildlife
painting by Stephen Gayford nb Google-search
gayfordgallery and "Stephen Gayford poetry".

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

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/lynx-cub/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/lynx-cub-poem

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/lynx-cub/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2015/01/lynx-cub.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

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

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in January 2015!

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,
NB use zoom-in feature when viewing pictures.

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

http://www.baato.co.uk/stephen%20gayford
(Various website sales of Stephen Gayford prints.)


:::

SIBERIAN SOUL MATES

Two tigers laid upon the ground,
Stretched out like bookends there,
Against a backdrop void of sound,
With nothing to beware...
And for an hour's grace at least,
No trace of danger known
And vanished went each savage beast
Within that comfort zone...

And like two soul mates, each content,
Enjoying harmony,
A pleasant afternoon was spent,
As if that had to be...
As if a lesson must be learnt
And shared by such as these,
Before life's wisdoms were discerned
To bring about such peace...

If only human children knew
Serenity like this,
Instead of fighting two by two,
In place of finding bliss...
But that takes time, as parents know,
If siblings choose their friends,
Instead of those with which they grow
Until their childhood ends...



Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2015.


The poem is based on the magnificent wildlife
painting by Stephen Gayford nb Google-search
gayfordgallery and "Stephen Gayford poetry".

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

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/siberian-soul-mates/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/siberian-soul-mates

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/siberian-soul-mates/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2015/01/siberian-soul-mates.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

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

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in January 2015!

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,
NB use zoom-in feature when viewing pictures.

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

http://www.baato.co.uk/stephen%20gayford
(Various website sales of Stephen Gayford prints.)


:::

SIBERIAN BROTHERS

Siberia's a lonesome place,
Yet tigers still survive,
With family bonds that would embrace
And keep each one alive...
So brothers find some comfort there,
At peace, while side by side,
At gentle rest and time to spare
And joy these two can't hide...

Such are the bonds that would unite
Two tigers night and day,
Beyond each nibble's playful bite,
Before they hunt for prey...
From childhood reared, so soon to part,
As adults on their own,
Perhaps to bear a lonesome heart,
Or just a heart of stone...

Will memory serve of times gone by?
Cast off or kept in mind?
If met again, would each one sigh,
Or smile and then be kind?
Each has the choice, rejoice or run,
Be good, bad or aloof,
But here and now, rest in the sun,
Appreciate your youth...



Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2015.


The poem is based on the magnificent wildlife
painting by Stephen Gayford nb Google-search
gayfordgallery and "Stephen Gayford poetry".

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

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/siberian-brothers/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/siberian-brothers

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/siberian-brothers/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2015/01/siberian-brothers.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

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

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in January 2015!

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,
NB use zoom-in feature when viewing pictures.

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

http://www.baato.co.uk/stephen%20gayford
(Various website sales of Stephen Gayford prints.)


:::

MOTHER AND CALF

When elephants walk so gently
Upon their chosen path,
Should Man forget the harmony
Shared by mother and calf?
Ignoring peace and joy and love,
Forsaking common good,
As if Man stands supreme above
Within this neighbourhood?

Has Man the right to separate,
For ivory and more,
Two happy hearts that celebrate
With feelings that outpour?
To steal away the light of day
That these blessed eyes have seen,
Like hunting's just a game to play
And nothing short of mean?

Endangered species bear the cost
When Man encroaches near,
When Man all self-control has lost
And life's no more held dear...
What's next, when all the hunting ends,
With elephants all dead?
Will Man build robot elephants
In future times ahead?


Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2015.


The poem is based on the magnificent wildlife
painting by Stephen Gayford nb Google-search
gayfordgallery and "Stephen Gayford poetry".

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

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/mother-and-calf/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/mother-and-calf

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/mother-and-calf/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2015/01/mother-and-calf.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

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

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in January 2015!

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,
NB use zoom-in feature when viewing pictures.

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

http://www.baato.co.uk/stephen%20gayford
(Various website sales of Stephen Gayford prints.)


:::

BARN OWL

The barn owl swiftly rose on high,
Serenely so, in fact,
To glide across the pale blue sky,
As if no need to act...
I saw it land on yonder tree
And set my camera's view
To focus on its majesty,
To learn what it would do...

And what I saw felt mine all mine,
As if the only one
To see its glistening black eyes shine
And shimmer in the sun...
For it stayed still as if to pose,
Permitting me the chance
To zoom in more, till way up close,
The picture to enhance...

My camera clicked time after time,
To capture all I saw,
Because, to me, it looked sublime
And thrilled me to the core...
But glad was I that it was free,
To live its whole life through,
Not put on show for you and me
To stare at in a zoo...



Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2015.


The poem is based on the magnificent wildlife
painting by Stephen Gayford nb Google-search
gayfordgallery and "Stephen Gayford poetry".

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

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/barn-owl-4/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/barn-owl-poem

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/barn-owl-4/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2015/01/barn-owl.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

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

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in January 2015!

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,
NB use zoom-in feature when viewing pictures.

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

http://www.baato.co.uk/stephen%20gayford
(Various website sales of Stephen Gayford prints.)


:::

LIBERTY EAGLE!

The eagle soared across the sky,
As if by faith alone
And thus determined there to fly
A course none else had known...
A single creature few had seen
Above the mountain tops,
Snow-capped and glistening with a sheen
That seldom ever stops...

My word, it was a sky so blue
That eagle must be glad,
Regarding such a splendid view,
What greater could be had?
The sense of freedom felt within
Must surely soothe the heart,
As if relieved of every sin,
To gain a brand new start...

Some say such treasures have a price,
But eagles know their place,
Such liberty makes us think twice
About God's sovereign grace...
Man has no wings to bear his weight,
Man has to walk or run,
Yet eagles soar to any height
Beneath God's golden sun...



Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2015.


Poem based on a magnificent wildlife painting,
Liberty by Stephen Gayford nb Google-search
gayfordgallery and "Stephen Gayford poetry".

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

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/liberty-eagle/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/liberty-eagle-poem

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/liberty-eagle/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2015/01/liberty-eagle.html

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

My Stephen Gayford tribute poems are here:

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

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in January 2015!

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,
NB use zoom-in feature when viewing pictures.

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

http://www.baato.co.uk/stephen%20gayford
(Various website sales of Stephen Gayford prints.)


:::