PLAYTIME

The lion cubs approached with guile,
Each facing off with glee,
Behind their growls each had a smile
That only friends could see...
To strangers, they looked mighty mad
And ready for a fight,
Yet both their parents seemed quite glad,
Restrained and quite polite...

So neither parents intervened
As these two cubs began.
They circled round and schemed and schemed
As if each had a plan...
The clueless cubs, if truth be told,
Were practicing at best...
Pretending they were strong and bold,
Yet neither was impressed!

They knew their place, as young cubs do,
So fighting turned to play!
So growling switched to 'I like you,
No matter what I say...'
The lion cubs had found a truce
And war had turned to peace...
Three cheers for that! At last, good news!
Will wonders never cease!?

Denis Martindale, copyright June 2011.

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/playtime-3/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/06/playtime.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

WHITE LORD

The pure white lion chose his spot,
Content that it would do
And there he didn't move a lot,
He just enjoyed the view...
To him, this was another day,
No worries on his mind
And so he let time pass away,
Slow breathing to unwind...

The years had taught him how to live
And if to walk or run...
The time to take, the time to give,
The battles to be won...
Of course, by now, the heat was strong,
So why not have a rest?
No point in running all day long,
For who would be impressed?

The white lord in the sky above
Was just like him below,
When that old sun had shone enough,
It gave the moon a go...
Let lion cubs run left and right!
Let lion cubs climb trees!
For now, it was his prime delight
To nestle on his knees...

Denis Martindale, copyright June 2011.　

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/white-lord/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/whitelord

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/06/white-lord.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

SUMATRAN TIGER

Sumatran Tiger! Look at you!
So many frowns you've got!
As if you don't know what to do,
So you don't do a lot!
I see you resting all alone,
Pretending that you're fine,
But you don't like it on your own,
You need a Valentine...

I know you're proud, stiff-upperlipped,
But that's bravado, friend!
It's outward show, emotions gripped!
You'll soon go round the bend!
There's some cute tigress all depressed
With frowns as long as yours!
Go get her, tiger! Do your best!
Caress her with those paws!

You're made of flesh and blood! Yes, you!
You lucky so-and-so!
It's time to change your point of view...
It's time for you to go!
Sumatran Tiger! On the shelf,
With dark frowns on your brow...
Get up! It's time to move yourself!
Your courting days start now!

Denis Martindale, copyright May 2011.

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

The poem is based on the magnificent sketch
by Stephen Gayford called 'Sumatran Tiger'.

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sumatran-tiger/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/05/sumatran-tiger.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

GORGEOUS

A cute white lion cub posed there,
Sphinx-like for all to see,
So gorgeous and so debonair,
Born free and fancy free...
Serenity personified,
Tranquillity sublime,
That's why I stared, eyes open wide,
As if now lost in time...
 
Imagine how the years would grant
Him stature and allure,
So he could do the things he can't,
For then he'll do much more...
Today, he's just a ball of fur
With arms and legs attached,
With head and tail and gentle purr,
With beauty rarely matched...
 
But when he's grown, my word, what then?
A lion king, no doubt!
For sure, a royal sovereign,
Distinctive, standing out!
If God and Man let him survive,
What wondrous things he'll do!
That could be said of all alive,
Including me... and you!
 
　
Denis Martindale, copyright May 2011.
 
My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

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

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

Shared on
 
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gorgeous-5/
 
http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/05/gorgeous.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
　

SUNDOWNERS

If you've ever studied meerkats,
They're simple so-and-sos...
They're really fast and when each scats
You hardly see their toes...
When they stand tall, all nonchalant,
As if there's nothing wrong,
Like waiters in a restaurant,
They'll stand there all day long...
 
But if there's trouble, then watch out!
Those meerkats sure can run!
You'll not be left in any doubt,
They'll outchase anyone...
They'll stare at you with eyes like coals,
Not cowards with heads bowed.
They know their little hidey-holes,
That's where they laugh out loud!
 
When evening comes, their games must end,
That's when the meerkats rest...
Just like sundowners do, my friend,
Content they've done their best...
If we reflected, frame-by-frame,
Would we be filled with pride?
I wonder, could we say the same?
Or have we let things slide?
 
　
Denis Martindale, copyright May 2011.
　
My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

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

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

Shared on
 
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sundowners/
 
http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/05/sundowners.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
　

SILENT WATERS

The wise white tiger eased his way
Through the silent waters
And with such stealth he proved that day
Just how much he taught us...
For he was such a wily soul,
With cunning so sublime,
Content to maintain self-control,
Content to take his time...

The minimum of noise was made
As he swam dead ahead,
Yet then with gentle paws to wade,
As if a thoroughbred...
Determination drove him on
Towards his destiny...
Another life would soon be gone,
Who knows what it could be?

For now, there were no sudden thrills,
He drifted like a log...
The silence helped his hunting skills,
As if he were a dog...
Yet no dog stared with eyes like his,
Two sapphires burning bright...
Like two gas flames and each flame is
A symbol of his might!

Denis Martindale, copyright April 2011.

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

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

More Stephen Gayford poems here:

denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/silent-waters/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/05/silent-waters.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

I'M SURE IT'S THIS WAY

The lion cub woke up so slow,
For tired out was he
And didn't know the way to go,
No lions could he see!
'Oh, dear, they've left me all alone!
Perhaps this is a test!
I'll work it out all on my own...
I wonder which way's best?'

And so he paused, as lions do,
Content to search for signs,
Because right then he had no clue
To help the heart that pines...
He first looked left and then looked right,
Then circled round and round,
For something that would end his plight,
No matter, sight or sound...

'I'm sure it's this way!' he presumed,
As if he were correct
And so his searching he resumed,
So this way could be checked...
The other lions laughed out loud
As he chose to explore...
He'd passed the test and they were proud
As he joined them once more!

Denis Martindale, copyright April 2011.

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

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'I'm Sure It's This Way'.

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-m-sure-it-s-this-way/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/imsureitsthisway

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