TIGER STARE

Intimidation is the game, as any tiger knows.
Infuriation is the aim, before it comes to blows.
The tiger stare, with ears erect, the lowered jaw in tune,
The teeth to bear, for bold effect! All say, 'I'll fight you soon!'
If not, the tiger stare is used to focus on the prey...
Before all energy's infused and it gets clean away...
Or else a future mate is seen, with him truly smitten...
Wide-eyed, the alpha male is keen to meet the little kitten...
If not, some new scent's in the air... his basic instincts rise.
He breathes in deep... his nostrils flare... as danger he defies.
He bides his time before he acts, while time is on his side,
But come the time he finds the facts, no conscience comes to guide.
Sometimes a tiger stands alone! It's him against the rest!
Gone are the brothers he has known, now he must do his best!
No more the tiger cub of old, no more the little one...
He's seen the seasons which unfold beneath the golden sun!
The tiger stare is what he does... portraying who he is...
Who knows what it will mean for us? A quick death or a kiss?
And yet we stare, breathtaken, too, till fear has been increased...
At just how big this big cat grew.... at beauty and the beast...

Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2009.

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

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Tiger Stare'.
Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/tiger-stare/
Internet Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/tigerstare

The Gayford poems can be viewed here:
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems

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

LOOKOUT POST

The meerkats stood on tippy toes,
For danger was afoot!
Where it would strike, nobody knows
And yet they must stay put!
So one looked left and one looked right
And one looked up and down!
To some, the meerkats looked a sight,
With each one, Nature's clown!
But times were hard and foes were fast!
So fast, they were a blur!
While unwarned victims were aghast,
The wise were quick to stir!
They didn't hang around and say,
'Ooh, look! That's not so good!'
They scarpered quick, got clean away
And left the neighbourhood!
Forewarned, forearmed, four feet, then gone...
To snigger underground!
To safely hide from light that shone,
No longer to be found!
The game went on to their delight,
For hours at a time...
It's very hard for foes to bite
A meerkat in his prime!
United they stand! Together!
Survivors to the end!
Yes, meerkats are very clever!
Just try to catch one, friend!

Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2009.

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

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Lookout Post'.
Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lookout-post/
Internet Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/lookoutpost

The Gayford poems can be viewed here:
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems

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

FOREST STREAM

The lonesome tiger waded through
The forest stream one day.
I'd watched him, though he had no clue,
With equal stealth to stay.
I saw the tiger tread his path,
Suspecting everything.
This was no peaceful, joyful bath...
Who knows what life can bring?
The hunter knows what trees can hide...
He dare not make mistakes.
And so he stares, eyes open wide...
When crossing streams and lakes.
His ears are scanning left and right...
His life depends on these.
He needs them every day and night,
With sudden noise he'll freeze.
His senses span the spectrum's range
And profit from their news.
Detecting every second's change,
Exchanging points of views.
Reflexes spark the sudden chase,
When prey seeks to escape.
When all at once, it's one mad race
And then the hunt takes shape.
For now, the tiger wades the stream,
Defensive at this time...
For me, it's like I'm in a dream...
To see him in his prime...

Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2009.

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

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

Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/forest-stream/
Internet Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/foreststream

The Gayford poems can be viewed here:
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems

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

HANGING AROUND

The leopard leapt and climbed the tree
He spotted on his way,
Up there, the whole wide world to see,
Time passing, come what may.
The world was hot, too hot to care,
Too hot to walk or run...
The leopard stayed, content to stare,
Now shaded from the sun...
No point in all that stifling heat
Which makes it hard to breathe...
It hardly made his life complete,
As one would first believe.
The leopard paused and settled down
And heaved a weary sigh...
Forgot his speed of great renown,
Fixed on one spot to lie...
Oh, yes, he could get used to this!
Tremendous, quite refined!
He'd twigged this would be perfect bliss,
Outstretched and now reclined!
The leopard looked for miles and miles,
Surveying all he could,
Upon this world of tests and trials
And on his neighbourhood.
To some degree, he ruled it all,
No matter, day or night...
So many heard and feared his call,
In seconds to take flight.
Oh, yes, the leopard knew his place...
The way things had to be.
For now, this peace he would embrace...
Just hanging around, you see...

Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2009.

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

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

Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hanging-around/
Internet Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/hangingaround

The Gayford poems can be viewed here:
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems

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

AFRICAN EVENING

'Isn't this nice? ' the lioness said,
'A summer breeze and day near dead
And crystal clear enough to search,
To hunt again, if I've the urge.
Of course, I might just have a snooze...
For now, I'm fine, nothing to lose.
No cubs to crush this quiet time...
The day's gone well, in fact, sublime.
So belly down and front paws stretched,
To watch the sky this day has sketched...
To gaze serenely without cares
And look at clouds pass by in pairs.
Life's not so bad, still lots to learn.
I'll find a mate, when it's my turn.
There's no rush yet - this year, next year.
I'm quite content just lying here...
I've got no stomach pains today -
No cause to kill or hunt new prey.
No need to see death haunt the eyes
As suddenly my next meal dies...
For now, it's peaceful as can be -
There's no sign here of misery...
There's just the sun... and clouds above...
And, somehow, these things seem enough.
No thirst have I, as evening calls,
No lions here, no evening brawls,
No lions roaring back and forth,
Just nothing south, east, west and north.
This land is mine and mine alone -
A greater peace I've never known.
I'm getting sleepy in this sun,
Yet glad to know my work is done.
So sleep it is... just lying down...
To rest again, take off the crown,
To put aside one's majesty...
To savour life, as one born free...'

Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2009.

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'African Evening'.
Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/african-evening-3/
Internet Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/africanevening

The Gayford poems can be viewed here:
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems

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

WINTER SUNBATHER

The tiger yawned as he walked on...
The snow had slowed him down...
He'd wait it out till it was gone,
For now, he wore a frown.
The sun reflected in his eyes.
He squinted now and then.
Conserving strength was very wise...
And so he stopped again.
With paws outstetched, his mood soon thawed...
He settled in one place.
No longer was he overawed.
The sun he chose to face...
Another yawn... his eyelids closed,
As if this were the norm,
Yet not so bad as he supposed...
His coat would soon be warm.
While most would sleep contentedly,
This tiger kept his cool.
His head held high for all to see,
He proved he was no fool.
His claws retracted 'neath the fur...
His heartbeat soothed within...
And so he stayed and wouldn't stir,
Until the sun gave in...

Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2009.

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

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

Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/winter-sunbather/
Internet Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/wintersunbather

The Gayford poems can be viewed here:
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems

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

SPLASH!

The tiger strolled quite merrily,
As if without a qualm
And those that watched could plainly see
That he was mighty calm.
It was as if the stream was his,
To do with as he pleased.
It was a sight no-one should miss,
As tiger tension eased...
So there he was, content to play,
As kittens often do
And suddenly to splash away,
As if this game were new.
The fish were off, they scattered fast,
They had no furry friends.
The tiger didn't feel downcast,
Why should he take offence?
The day was young, he was there first,
The others had to wait...
This was his time to quench his thirst...
Next time, they won't be late.
Splash here, splash there, splash everywhere.
Who cares if it annoys?
As long as he had time to spare,
The pebbles were his toys.
He moved them left, he moved them right,
He flicked one so it flew.
Some birds above him soon took flight,
For all at once fear grew.
The tiger grinned to see such fun.
He knew they were perplexed.
That's when he flicked another one,
Amused that they were vexed.
He strolled along then slowly drank...
He sipped it like champagne.
Then in deep waters slowly sank
Till he was clean again...
When he was through, he left it all...
The sun would dry him soon.
Then through the tall grass he would crawl
And hunt that afternoon...

Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2009.

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

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Splash!'
Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/splash-9/

The Gayford poems can be viewed here:
http://tinyurl.com/gayfordpoems

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