Monday 29 August 2016

THANKS TO ALL THOSE EBAY SELLERS!


This is just to say thanks to all those
Ebay sellers out there who create online
auctions and buy now prices for so many
Stephen Gayford wildlife prints and
other items, too. I have bought a few
of the prints and canvas prints, as well
as some Christmas Greeting cards, so I
know just how much care and consideration
goes into the packing and posting of these
bulky, yet fragile pictures. I am also
thankful for every single close-up photo
of the front and back of the prints, too.
Several of the Ebay sellers were ready,
willing and able to respond to my queries.
Some even accepted the best offers I made.
I can set the display for showing up to
200 pictures of these auctions at a time.
I can then save as a complete web page
to act as a quick reference when offline.
Every now and then, Ebay sends me an email
which offers me a 20% off an auction price.
Maybe one day I'll be extra tempted to buy a
really large canvas print. You never know!


Denis Martindale August 2016.

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CLOUDED LEOPARD


The Clouded Leopard had a face
That made me stop and stare,
Distinctive markings made me gaze,
In wonder, standing there...
The kind a painter wants to paint
And seek to do that right,
Yet not as if it looks so quaint,
But that it's quite a sight...

Close-up, the details are precise,
With contrasts plainly seen,
Its forward glance, its strong-willed eyes,
Demeanour stilled, serene...
A perfect subject to portray,
Exquisite and sublime,
No wonder that I spent the day
And thought it worth my time...

To think, such creatures great and small
Impress us now and then,
Recalling every miracle,
The captured moment when...
The second we stand motionless,
Observing while we can,
Contended that such creatures bless
The tender heart of Man...


Denis Martindale August 2016.


A poem based on the magnificent wildlife paintings
by Stephen Gayford. Google-search phrases
gayford prints and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.

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TIGER CUB


At first, the tiger cub was small,
Almost a bag of bones,
When he could hardly stand at all,
As weak as one that groans...
The tigress was amazed, of course,
She had much higher hopes,
But patience proves the strongest force
So that each young one copes...

So she was there, right by his side,
To nudge him now and then,
As he looked up, eyes opened wide
To see her love again...
She was his rock, his steadfast friend,
Not judging like the rest,
The kind whose love is without end,
To make sure he felt blessed...

And that was how her love remained,
No matter, night or day,
So that both faith and strength he gained
To guide him on his way...
So once the years had rolled on by,
One day, he chose to roam,
When Nature gave no reason why
He had to stay at home...


Denis Martindale August 2016.


A poem based on the magnificent wildlife paintings
by Stephen Gayford. Google-search phrases
gayford prints and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.

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THE OLD WARRIOR


As ancient as his old bones felt,
The lion stood his ground
And though their king, not one had knelt,
Nor by such signs were bound...
He was their sovereign, master, lord,
He had the upper hand
And that was why he stood assured,
The ruler of this land...

As long as might was on his side
And courage in his heart
And still protector of the pride,
He stayed and played the part...
For Nature gave him all he owned,
Permitted him this day,
As if presenting him enthroned,
The king they must obey...

Dissenters stood both left and right,
The groaners, wounded still,
Because he fought with all his might,
As if it were God's will...
But God would choose another king,
This week, this month, this year
And for the taking, everything,
This lion held most dear...


Denis Martindale August 2016.


A poem based on the magnificent wildlife paintings
by Stephen Gayford. Google-search phrases
gayford prints and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.

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THE OLD TUSKER!


Some elephants are really old,
With tusks that stretch so long
And so they're not just brave and bold,
But really, really strong!
So give respect to elephants,
They've got a lot to bear,
Up close, I've only seen them once,
In Regents Park, somewhere...

I'd go boss-eyed with tusks like those
That dangled long and low,
I've got no trunk, I've just a nose,
Much easier to blow...
Imagine if you stood as tall,
With tusks that weighed a ton,
I know I'd need a miracle
To stand, then walk, then run!

Look at their ears, my word, they're grand,
Like dustbin lids, my friends,
So try at least to understand
When you meet elephants!
Just think of those in Africa
And India as well,
It doesn't matter, near or far,
Each has a tale to tell...


Denis Martindale, copyright August 2016.


A poem based on a magnificent wildlife painting
by Stephen Gayford. Google-search phrases
gayford prints and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.

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UNDER KILIMANJARO


How earnest are the lives of those
God chose to locate there,
Such that, of course, one would suppose,
The cold was hard to bear...
Yet lives are lived and lives are lost,
By both the great and small,
Such that each learns the measured cost
Of God's great miracle...

The mountain merely spans the land,
Without a single thought
And yet, nearby, each hunter's planned
For prey that must be caught...
Life holds for such no guarantee,
No warranty to save,
It's do or die, that's plain to see,
Stay cowardly or brave...

A thousand years can come and go,
Some creatures may remain,
The rest extinct, no more to know,
No second chance to gain...
Yet if Man cares and really tries,
Some species may live on,
If not, who knows each one that dies?
How long till each has gone?


Denis Martindale August 2016.


A poem based on the magnificent wildlife paintings
by Stephen Gayford. Google-search phrases
gayford prints and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.

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DON'T DISMISS YOUR DESTINY!


If there, within your human heart,
A godly light can shine,
A spark called faith can truly start
And prove itself benign,
Such that the Scriptures God provides
Become the pathways home,
A treasure map that daily guides,
So there's no need to roam...
And faith can grow and doubt can die
And time preserves the best,
Like gold refined, till by and by,
Its purity gets blessed...
And stars that shine won't seem as bright
As your light there within,
Each time you think, or paint or write,
Or good work you begin...

Success or failure, come what may,
Some lessons must be learned,
Until there comes one fateful day
When success has been earned...
By then you'll know, praise God and smile
At just how far you've come,
Despite the fact it took a while,
Sometimes much more than some...
Yet you got there, yes, you arrived,
So none can doubt your strength,
It wasn't just that you survived,
Or you got there at length...
Nor was it that God slowed you down
Till you moved at a crawl,
Till finally you lost that frown
And gained your miracle...

Your destiny gets played out slow,
Impatience changes nought,
It isn't just the things you know,
Or some insight or thought,
It isn't just the light, my friend,
It's God's love just for you,
Without this, you can't comprehend,
Without this, you've no clue...
Let destiny unfold and bless,
Let destiny prevail,
Let destiny grant you success,
Or else you're bound to fail...
Humanity, humility,
Both serve this purpose well,
Will you achieve your destiny!?
Friend, only time will tell...


Denis Martindale August 2016.


A poem based on the magnificent wildlife paintings
by Stephen Gayford. Google-search phrases
gayford prints and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.

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