FAMILY PORTRAIT

The lion and the lioness
Posed still, so full of pride,
Determined that they would impress
Spectators far and wide...
The family portrait must be done,
For future eyes to see,
That's why they braved the midday sun,
Just for posterity...

Of course, she fussed, as mothers do,
While he remained serene,
The lion king in perfect view
Still waiting on his queen...
Then all at once, the moment came
And cameras clicked like mad,
As lion cubs too young to name
Stared at their Mum and Dad!

Photographers were quick to check
The pictures they had stored,
For every tail and paw and neck
So nothing was ignored...
'Thank God that's over!' thought the king,
By now he'd had enough!
He left them all, yes, everything,
And said, 'I'm going, love...'

Denis Martindale, copyright April 2011.

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/family-portrait-6/

http://denis-martindale.blogspot.com/2011/04/family-portrait.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

WATCHING YOU

The Royal Tiger was acclaimed
Across the whole world wide
And in great pictures he'd been framed,
With genius and pride...
Distinctive stature has its charm,
Amid the ancient trails
And Man protects him from all harm,
For true love never fails...

Endangered species can't express
Their every daily need
And whether tiger, or tigress,
We know each one must feed...
As long as we've got some control,
Some stewardship at least,
Each Man must look inside his soul,
For beauty and the beast...

That's why the bold white tiger stood,
His old blue eyes aglow,
About to do what tigers should
When hunger starts to grow...
And so the hunt was on again,
For creatures great and small,
Perhaps to feast, survive and then
Be feared by one and all...

Denis Martindale, copyright April 2011.

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/watching-you-16/

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

ALL TIRED OUT

All fired up, all tired out,
The lion cub was through
And now there wasn't any doubt,
For no more could he do...
His little legs had run a mile,
By chasing all that moved
And though he lasted for a while,
Right now he must be soothed...

His precious paws had tender toes,
His muscles needed rest,
He only had a tiny nose
For air from east to west...
He watched the gliding clouds go by
And lay there hypnotised,
As they serenely sailed the sky
Across the land he prized...

One day he'd be the lion king
Who'd dominate for sure,
The guardian over everything
That life prepared him for...
Just give him time, for destiny
To bring these truths about...
And leave his royal majesty,
Today, all tired out!

Denis Martindale, copyright April 2011.

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

The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'All Tired Out'.

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/all-tired-out/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/alltiredout

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

 

WEARY

It was like the Fates conspired
And somehow had it planned,
I could see that he was tired,
That soon he couldn't stand...
Though the tiger wasn't near me,
Because I'm not that daft,
I could tell that he was weary
And that is why I laughed.
 
No more the wild thing so engrossed,
I knew he couldn't last...
With one eye open, one eye closed,
The tiger faded fast...
One paw serving for a pillow,
Beneath his dozy head,
He was like a weeping willow,
Quite rooted there instead...
 
He had to learn to pace himself!
This was the Golden Rule:
Survival first, preserve one's health
And not to play the fool...
He had to learn the solemn truth,
Now he was getting on
And say farewell to passing youth,
Now that his strength had gone...
　
 
Denis Martindale, copyright April 2011.
 
My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

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

More Stephen Gayford poems here:

denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on
 
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/weary-14/
 
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
　

BOOKENDS

Two tiger cubs had claimed a tree
As if it were their own
And guarded it with dignity,
As if they were full-grown!
They glared at those that ventured near,
With stern-stared loathsome looks,
As if they hoped to instil fear,
Like proper gangster crooks!

They arched their backs, their necks held high
With awesome jawsome jowls,
As if to give the evil eye
Backed up with fearsome scowls...
The gruesome twosome joined by oath
To fight with all their strength!
The passersby ignored them both!
Just sauntered by at length...

Two tiger cubs had claimed a tree,
Their castle for the day...
Like bookends in a library,
Determined, all the way...
Each little rebel with a cause,
Defiant to the last!
Their tiny claws inside their paws,
Though harmless, were quite fast...

Denis Martindale, copyright, April 2011.

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

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

More Stephen Gayford poems here:

denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bookends-2/

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

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
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

CHEEK TO CHEEK

Two tigers wandered to and fro,
Like restless tigers do,
Until they chose to take things slow
Just like the chosen few...
Let others pounce and leap for joy,
Explore for all they're worth,
But these two tigers played it coy
And settled on the earth...

Thus side-by-side and cheek-to-cheek
They nestled 'neath the sun,
Content merely to pause and peek
At others having fun...
As if to say, 'You go for it!
We'll stay here keeping guard...
Conserve your strength, keep fighting fit,
Just don't you play too hard!'

While others every joy embrace
As if Hell-bent on thrills,
Some tigers simply spend their days,
Like statues watching hills...
They look like bookends on the shelves,
Now rooted to the spot!
Wise tigers learn to pace themselves!
That sun is too darned hot!

Denis Martindale, copyright, April 2011.

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

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

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

Shared on

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cheek-to-cheek-4/

Shortcut: http://tinyurl.com/cheektocheek

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

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
http://www.pricedropper.co.uk
http://www.pokemoncraftstore.com/index.php?cPath=24

BALANCED

From time to time, our moods must change,
That's just the way we are...
So none of us should think it strange
To wish upon a star...
By faith, we claim a miracle,
A vision or a dream,
A lullaby so lyrical
That somehow fits the theme...
 
The meerkats looked, as meerkats do,
To watch the sunrise soon,
Because, to them, it was brand new
And brighter than the moon...
They had no clue how it got there,
Or how it sailed the sky,
Or how its light was hard to bear
And so they wondered why...
 
On balance, it brought light and heat,
On balance, hip hooray!
Somehow it made their lives complete
And brightened up each day...
So it felt good to watch it turn
Brilliant golden yellow...
And so they perched, content to learn...
Balanced, feeling mellow...
　
 
Denis Martindale, copyright, April 2011.
　
My Poetry website: http://poem.says.it

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

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

Shared on
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/balanced-2/
 
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