EXQUISITE FELINE GRACE

Black panther creature, slim and sleek,
As slinky, silky lace,
You move with style, as if unique,
As if with feline grace...
You saunter left, you saunter right,
You glide from place to place,
As if presenting pure delight,
To mesmerise and daze...

And when I saw you that first time,
I stared upon your face,
Because your beauty was sublime,
To me, as one that stays...
What other creature caught my eyes,
So my attention strays?
And yet, you took me by surprise,
My tender heart to praise...

To be firm friends with such as you,
Your friendship to embrace,
I'd show compassion through and through,
For kindness always pays...
I'd prove to you, of all you've known,
Of us, the Human Race,
This man's respect stands out alone,
In, oh, so many ways...


Denis Martindale September 2016.


Poem based on the magnificent Stephen Gayford
wildlife painting Feline Grace. Google-search
phrases gayford prints & Stephen Gayford poetry.

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/exquisite-feline-grace/

Shortcut:

http://tinyurl.com/exquisite-feline-grace

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/exquisite-feline-grace/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2016/09/exquisite-feline-grace.html

:::
:::

FLORIDA PANTHER!

Florida Panther, I see you!
Your markings make you known,
That's why I need no further clue
Than photos I've been shown...
And aren't you looking thin, my friend,
So sleek and debonair?
Fit as a fiddle, end to end,
That's why I must take care...

But, my, aren't you the pretty one?
As golden as could be,
That's why you're shining in the sun
And quite beguiling me...
It's just that I respect your kind,
So feline, full of grace
And while, of course, you're hard to find,
I'll not forget your face...

As long as we can part this day,
Your portrait I can paint,
So glad, in time, when people say,
'My word, that cat looks quaint!'
When we're long gone, such paintings tell
How good you looked right now,
So, adios, my friend, farewell,
All I can say is, 'WOW!'


Denis Martindale, copyright October 2015.


Poem based on a magnificent wildlife painting,
by artist Stephen Gayford. Google-search
gayfordgallery and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.


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

Poem shared here:

http://poemhunter.com/poem/florida-panther/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/florida-panther-poem

Printer-friendly text version, nb increase text size:

http://poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/florida-panther/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2015/10/florida-panther.html


My Poetry website: http://www.denismartindale.supanet.com/poems.html
My Poemhunter poems can be searched here: http://tinyurl.com/dmpoems

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 October 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
NB that's for basic displays of Ebay auctions,
but this display of 200 items helps even more:
http://tinyurl.com/stephen-gayford-on-ebay
Better title descriptions and item numbers!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://www.amazon.co.uk

http://www.preloved.co.uk

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

http://www.gumtree.com/for-sale/uk/stephen+gayford

(Notice camera link to each image to view.)

http://www.for-sale.co.uk/stephen-gayford

(Various website sales of Stephen Gayford prints.)

http://xxl-sale.co.uk/search/?q=Stephen+Gayford

(Notice similar items at the end of each webpage.)

http://www.bezoon.co.uk/stephen-gayford-prints

http://www.saleclick.co.uk/Stephen+Gayford+Prints

http://www.worthpoint.com/inventory/search?query=Stephen+Gayford&categoryurl=&search-right=

http://salemagic.co.uk/Stephen%20Gayford

http://uk.picclick.com/Art/Prints/Contemporary-1980-Now/Limited-Editions/?q=stephen+gayford

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/picclick-gayfords

http://www.living3000.co.uk/shop/search/?q=Stephen+Gayford+print

http://stuccu.co.uk/so/Stephen%2520Gayford

http://heavenandearthdesigns.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=160_620


:::

BLACK MAGIC

Black Magic, I shall name you thus,
For you are rare indeed,
So separate from all of us,
As if a noble breed...
A panther with a haughty smile,
As if with secrets hid,
Yet with the looks that quite beguile
Despite the things you did...

Though I look on with eyes bewitched,
In awe at what I see,
I stay while you remain transfixed
And not chase after me...
To watch you there has calmed my soul,
The pace you set makes sense,
Why run around, lose self-control,
Instead of making friends?

Is that your plan? To take life slow?
No enemies to make?
Allow this man some time to know,
To simply take a break?
If yes, I owe you one in this,
A share of grace to give,
A chance for peace, a chance for bliss,
To live and yet let live...


Denis Martindale, copyright, February 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

The bid tv twitter website update here links to my
http://www.poemhunter.com poetry, nb over 400 poems:

https://twitter.com/bidtv/status/2016992586?screen_name=bidtv
https://mobile.twitter.com/bidtv/status/2016992586?screen_name=bidtv

Love Stephen Gayford? Here is a link to poetry inspired by
Stephen Gayford's prints -written by one of our customers.

http://bit.ly/16jh3o

9:41 p.m. Wed, Jun 3

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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


Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/black-magic-14/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/black-magic-14/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/black-magic-poem

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/02/black-magic.html


The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in February 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/

:::

Previous links:

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.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

:::

JADE

Black Panther Jade, so dark, so sleek,
So pristine in the sun,
Of all God's creatures quite unique,
With beauty that can stun...
For there you pause, so calm, serene,
So gentle, lying still,
Just like the Sphinx, revered when seen,
Hushed breath at such a thrill...

You needn't do a single thing
To make me like you now,
For all the wonder that you bring
Means more to me somehow...
Though we're not friends, this day you're named,
Like pussycats at home,
Your beauty grows with you untamed,
Wherever you may roam...

So you stay there and I'll stay here,
Respecting from afar,
With boundaries so crystal clear
That never jade or jar...
I'll paint a picture to recall,
This moment that we met,
Then gently hang it on the wall
So that I'll not forget...


Denis Martindale, copyright, February 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

The bid tv twitter website update here links to my
http://www.poemhunter.com poetry, nb over 400 poems:

https://twitter.com/bidtv/status/2016992586?screen_name=bidtv
https://mobile.twitter.com/bidtv/status/2016992586?screen_name=bidtv

Love Stephen Gayford? Here is a link to poetry inspired by
Stephen Gayford's prints -written by one of our customers.

http://bit.ly/16jh3o

9:41 p.m. Wed, Jun 3

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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


Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/jade-11/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/jade-11/

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

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/02/jade.html


The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in February 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/

:::

Previous links:

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.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

:::

ISLAND RETREAT

The panther walked with cubs close by,
With thirsty thoughts to soothe,
Till then, there'd be that question why
The cubs were on the move...
But parents know ahead of time
The basic facts of life,
A drink of water tastes sublime,
It tends to ease one's strife...

So water was the thought that drove
The panther straight ahead,
Towards a wondrous treasure trove,
That's where the cubs were led...
So that they'd learn of Paradise,
A place to drink and bathe,
A secret shared among the wise,
Their very lives to save...

A precious rock was waiting there,
With water all about,
A tiny island without care,
Where faith dispelled all doubt...
Where panthers rest, their thirst relieved,
Just taking in the day,
As if with brand new hope perceived,
Received and here to stay...


Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2014.


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


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

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

The bid tv twitter website update here links to my
http://www.poemhunter.com poetry, nb over 400 poems:

https://twitter.com/bidtv/status/2016992586?screen_name=bidtv
https://mobile.twitter.com/bidtv/status/2016992586?screen_name=bidtv

Love Stephen Gayford? Here is a link to poetry inspired by
Stephen Gayford's prints -written by one of our customers.

http://bit.ly/16jh3o

9:41 p.m. Wed, Jun 3

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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


Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/island-retreat/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/island-retreat/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/island-retreat-poem

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2014/01/island-retreat.html

The Stephen Gayford Gallery website is here:

http://www.gayfordgallery.com

It was being updated in December 2013!

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/

:::

Previous links:

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.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

:::

FELINE GRACE

A sleek black panther had appeared,
It slinked along so slow
And even as it gently neared,
I didn't turn and go...
For there was wonder in my eyes,
So statuesque I stayed,
Regardless that it wasn't wise
To pause with thoughts delayed...

My luck persisted for a while,
As if a miracle,
The panther couldn't see me smile,
My camera catching all...
Like models on a catwalk pose,
This panther took its time,
With feline grace each step it chose,
Superb and quite sublime...

And when it turned and walked away,
Its tail swished side-to-side,
Content to live a perfect day,
If sunshine served as guide...
While just a tourist, I was glad,
Although I dared not blink,
For it enjoyed the grace it had
And that sure made me think...


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2013.


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


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

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


Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/feline-grace/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/feline-grace/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/feline-grace

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2013/09/feline-grace.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.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

BE CAREFUL!

The panther turned his head around,
He knew that I was near,
Regretfully, I'd made a sound
And it was crystal clear...
I didn't panic there and then,
I simply froze, that's all,
Somehow I counted up to ten,
Deciding I should stall...

As long as I kept mighty still,
No further sound was heard
And though it was an act of will,
My silence was preferred...
That panther hadn't seen me yet,
While I blinked quietly,
Pretending that I needn't fret,
Heart beating frantically...

The panther turned, continued on
And I was mighty glad
And when I saw he'd safely gone...
I felt a lucky lad...
One camera click was all it took
To turn that panther's head
And though he had a long, long look,
I'm still alive, not dead!


Denis Martindale, copyright, July 2013.


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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/be-careful-21/

Printer-friendly text version:

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/denis-martindale/be-careful-21/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/be-careful-poem

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2013/07/be-careful.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

SHADOW IN THE JUNGLE

The panther chose to bide his time
Though hunger churned inside...
He had to plan the perfect crime,
Yet not because of pride...
He had one chance and that was all,
One chance to feast today,
One slip up now and in the brawl
His meal would flee away...

If panthers prayed, who would be safe?
Yet panthers say no prayers...
But they've got hopes instead of faith,
For joys and not despairs...
Yet each must hunt to gain the prize,
To pounce when times are right,
Before their victims realise
And like the birds take flight.

The panther gulped, the time was near...
His soft paws eased ahead...
And gone was every trace of fear
And dead all trace of dread.
What happened next, God only knows...
You see, I looked no more.
No longer crouching still, I rose...
And turned, Fate to ignore...

Denis Martindale, copyright, July 2011.

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/shadow-in-the-jungle/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/shadowinthejungle

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/07/shadow-in-jungle.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

BLACK BEAUTY

Behold the black panther's beauty!
That striking set of eyes!
Yet survival sets its duty -
To hunt until he dies...
So each night, he's slowly bidden
To stalk his prey once more...
Within that darkness he's hidden,
In silence, to be sure...
He treads the ground with gentle paws,
He sniffs the breeze for clues,
He hides his teeth, he hides his claws,
This untamed wild recluse...
The night is young, his turn will come...
His blood runs cold each time...
His heart is beating like a drum...
Yet onward he must climb.
The hours pass, yet he must wait...
The vigil must be kept.
No rest, he mustn't hesitate...
He mustn't be inept!
Was that a rustling dead ahead?
Was that his answered prayer?
Was that a creature that just fled?
All he could do was stare!
Here was the beauty and the beast...
The devil in disguise...
With hunger raging, unappeased...
Till something near him dies...
I pity him, his victims, too...
Is there no other way?
Each night they do what they must do,
The hunter and the prey...

Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2009.

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

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

Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/black-beauty-6/

The Gayford poems can be viewed here:
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems or
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems2
http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com

The framed pictures are bought from these UK websites:
http://www.bid.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.price-drop.tv (on UK Freeview)
http://www.speedauction.tv