Snow Child
The snow leopard mother and cub
Were resting for a while...
In their exclusive private club,
Yet neither raised a smile...
God turned the heat so low again,
That Winter sadness grew...
The Spring would come, yet, when, when, when! ?
But neither of them knew...
What leopard counts the passing days,
The suns and moons above?
What leopard's privy to God's ways
Or prays to Him with love?
The humans pray, for they've found faith...
They count the days and weeks...
They've learnt endurance to be brave
To wait until God speaks.
For only then, will Spring arrive,
To melt the snows and ice,
So that the leopards who survive
Will think it Paradise!
At last, they'll see their sorrows melt,
As if they were a dream...
At last, they'll make their presence felt
And form a hunting team...
Their Winter bonds will grant them strength,
Uniting them as one...
The cub will grow another length
To blossom in the sun...
Each creature has its own domain...
Each leopard has its spot...
It needs no lecture to explain,
This life is all it's got...
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Snow Child'.
The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard stared intently,
At all things near and far...
While at times, he looked quite friendly,
You know how wild cats are.
A tiny cat can mew meow
And people say, how cute!
Yet time goes on, then fates allow
That cat to be a brute!
The snow leopard stood serenely,
His paws poised on the pulse...
With his eyes surveying keenly,
As in all leopards' skulls...
While his heart was beating slowly...
His mind was thinking fast.
Though his hunting skills weren't holy,
He didn't look downcast.
Survival favours those that eat
A hearty meal each day,
Enduring both the cold and heat,
Outwitting all their prey.
That's why the leopard had to learn
That patience is the key...
And why, he, too, must wait his turn,
For breakfast, lunch and tea...
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Snow Leopard'.
The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Beauty
The leopard looked and listened, too,
While seated on the ground...
Observing from its point of view
Then suddenly spellbound...
For while with beauty of its own,
It felt life's beauty shared...
You'd have to have a heart of stone
To say you've never cared...
The leopard looked at all there was,
At sights both near and far,
As if it never came across
The beauty of a star,
The beauty of a waterfall...
The beauty of the plains,
The beauty of both great and small
And life that still remains...
The leopard looked and purred with praise
As if a saint reborn,
Content to live its final days,
No need to feel forlorn.
You see, it knew, we live our time,
Our share in history...
And blessed are those that call sublime
God's greatest gift: beauty...
Denis Martindale, copyright, February 2011.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Beauty'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Secret Stalker
The long-limbed leopard stared ahead
With longing in his eyes,
For he observed the prey that fled
From him in great surprise.
The creature panicked suddenly,
Its heartbeat oh so swift,
Chased by the leopard up a tree,
Its mighty weight to lift.
They prey was light upon its feet,
The branches to traverse,
The leopard wasn't quite so neat...
Things went from bad to worse...
The prey went through the lush green leaves
As if it didn't care,
The leopard lingered like all thieves
Who sense when to beware...
The prey was gone, he knew not how,
So he turned round displeased
To make his way across the bough
Because the hunt had ceased...
Through gritted teeth, he slowly made
His way back down to earth...
'Next time, ' he vowed, 'I'll make the grade!
I'll run for all I'm worth! '
Denis Martindale, copyright, November 2010.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Secret Stalker'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Leopard Sunset
The leopard lingered in the sun
Almost at close of day,
With all its hours almost done
And fast to ebb away...
The leopard let his memories
Remind him now and then,
Because he knew each day must cease
When moonlight shone again.
This day had seen new life, new death,
That's how time passes by...
We understand while we draw breath
Until our final sigh...
The leopard knew his time was near,
Just like the sun above,
Yet leopards are not prone to fear,
That's why they still share love...
His cubs were waiting down below,
As he watched like a king...
To see time like a river flow
To outlive everything...
Some day his cubs would watch in turn,
As their cubs played a while...
With each new day something to learn...
Some joy to raise a smile...
(July 2011/The poem is based on the
magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford
called 'Leopard Sunset'.)
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Snow Spirit
The snow leopard crouched on the ground,
As silent as the grave...
And there he paused without a sound,
Another meal to crave...
His empty belly told him straight,
This was the perfect time,
Be vigilant, endure the wait...
No higher must you climb.
Beyond him was a subtle stone,
A boulder nothing more...
Yet shaped as though now not alone,
His camouflage felt sure.
The trap was set... his eyes alert,
His ears tuned in for clues...
His legs like springs to sprint and spurt
And chase away the blues.
An hour passed without a word,
No rustling on the breeze...
No song tune from a flying bird,
No buzzing from the bees.
Then all at once, quite sudden like,
A broken twig went crack!
He moved as if a lightning strike,
His brand new prey to track!
With leaps and bounds and sudden swerves,
The leopard lunged and pounced!
Yes, patience is a skill that serves
When hunger is announced.
Without new prey, the leopard dies...
The big cat feeds once more...
To some, this truth is never nice,
Yet such is Nature's Law...
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Snow Spirit'.
The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Indian Sentinel
The tiger stared as tigers do
Across his own domain,
A remnant of the chosen few
On Earth who still remain...
When Winter comes and times are hard,
As hard as frozen snow,
The tiger's always on his guard,
No matter, high or low...
The seasons pass and daylight's short
And eyes must stay alert,
For any creature to be caught
And dangers that may hurt...
The tiger's seen these days before
And yearns for Spring's return,
Then Summer to appear once more
And sunshine's heat to burn...
For now, survival's game is played
And hunger takes its toll...
And though at times he looks dismayed,
He's brave within his soul...
Endurance and tenacity,
These strengths have served him well...
He hopes another year to see...
Yet of this, who can tell?
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Indian Sentinel'.
The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Mountain Splendour
Snow leopards look at snow all day!
It's here, there, everywhere!
It hardly ever goes away!
It's white beyond compare!
It's dazzling white, it's total white,
It really, really is!
It's safe to say that it's too bright!
It's not something they'd miss...
Snow leopards sit the whole day long
On snow, snow, snow, snow, snow...
It's sometimes nice, don't get me wrong,
But doesn't that stuff glow! ?
It's freezing cold, no good at all...
And bores them all to tears...
They hate it when new snowflakes fall
And tickle both their ears!
Snow leopards wait for food to eat...
They wait, wait, wait, wait, wait...
They take things slow, they tap their feet...
And think life's just great!
They can't hum tunes like humans do...
Remembering each rhyme...
They just sit down, enjoy the view...
And... while... away... the... time...
Denis Martindale, copyright, November 2010.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Mountain Splendour II'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Enigmatic
The leopard lingered all alone,
At rest for all to see.
With curled-up tail, in mid-air zone,
That stayed there playfully.
Sometimes a leopard finds a spot
Where all seems quite serene...
A wistful part he likes a lot,
To melt into that scene...
Thus time itself slowed down as well,
Life settled to a pause...
In fact, there was no way to tell,
Except the sun, of course.
You see, the sun is prone to move
Across the pale blue sky...
As if it had something to prove,
Yet leopards know not why...
This leopard knew that sleep was near,
He felt it in his bones.
He sensed the sun would disappear,
Replaced by darkened tones.
Then shadows bring old dangers back
And predators that pounce...
When hunters prowl in midnight black,
Survival's all that counts.
For now, the sunshine was his friend...
If he stayed here, static...
That's why his mood was confident,
Cool and enigmatic...
Sunbathers know the peaceful glow
The sun was meant to share.
Why not let go? Just take things slow...
Forsaking every care...
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Enigmatic'.
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Night Watchman
The leopard's eyes scanned left and right,
As sunshine faded fast,
For soon would come the moon and night,
When one more day had past
And eyes must now be on alert
With instincts borne to bear,
In case there was a need to spurt,
Escaping fast elsewhere...
The leopard's eyes were cooling down
As twilight gathered close,
As clear blue skies turn somewhat brown
And brilliant sunshine goes...
The air has felt a sudden chill
That creatures know full well...
The moon ascends on yonder hill
And casts its silver spell...
The leopard's eyes observe the scene,
The scene he's seen before,
The coming of the in-between,
The timing ever sure...
Night watchman, waiting, instincts taut,
Aware of everything,
Avoiding dangers as he ought,
That's how he's stayed the king...
Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2012.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Night Watchman II'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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...
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Hanging Around'.
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Winter Snows
As he laid down his weary head,
The tiger heaved a sigh...
'Not snow again? ' he asked, then said,
'Oh, dear, please, tell me why.'
The snowflakes flopped upon his nose
And nestled on his ears,
On twitching whiskers, then his toes
And made him feel his years...
'I don't deserve this day-by-day
And even night-by-night...
It doesn't matter if I pray,
My world's a constant white.'
Depressed, he stayed, frustrated still...
Life's not as we would choose.
Sometimes the chill can make us ill -
That's hardly called good news.
His fur coat kept him warm at best...
He wasn't all that cold.
Yet snow north, south and east and west?
Oh, dear... he felt so old...
He used to climb the tallest trees
And bask beneath the sun!
Snow was slippery just like grease...
It simply wasn't done...
Yes, Winter snows tame tigers, too.
Like them, for Spring, we wait...
For now, there's nothing we can do...
I know, that's great... just great...
Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2010.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Winter Snows'.
More Stephen Gayford wildlife poems:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Sublime
The leopard left his sleep behind,
Arose and walked around
And with that walk his waking mind
Was glad at what he found...
The sun was shining in the sky,
A wondrous breeze drew near
And yet not once did he ask why
Such blessings should appear...
And yet this world is so sublime,
In every single part
And blessed are they that spend their time
In painting perfect art...
Think of all creatures... great and small...
That artists sit and paint,
Yet Stephen Gayford, he stands tall,
To some, he is a saint...
He captures insights when on tour,
He gets each detail done
And then he thrills us to the core
And shares his sense of fun...
From meerkats to the giant cats,
Fantastic dolphins, too!
He paints them like aristocrats...
Sublime... each time... for you...
Denis Martindale, copyright, August 2012.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'The Sublime'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
With Intent
The lonely leopard forced to find
His next meal now and then,
Walked with intent, with single mind,
With one thought yet again...
To hunt alone, with none to blame
If something should go wrong,
Just basic skills that stayed the same,
That's why he must stay strong...
He passed the time reserving power,
Till his next meal arrived,
Perhaps within this coming hour,
Based on the plans contrived...
His eyes looked left, his eyes looked right,
Surveying all there was,
Perhaps to see something take flight
Then chase or suffer loss...
The lonely leopard sleek and fast
And ruthless, come what may,
Reflected on his solemn past,
The trail of fallen prey...
He lived the life that Nature gave,
To kill yet not repent...
Like predators who daily crave,
He now walked with intent...
Denis Martindale, copyright, May 2012.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'With Intent'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Himalayan Spirit
Snow leopard, you've got pointed ears!
My word, don't they stand out?
They're oh so cute, the little dears,
With small hairs all about.
And aren't your whiskers dainty things?
I bet they make you itch...
So fine like stretched out steel-like springs
And ready-primed to twitch...
I like your nicely turned-up nose!
It looks so pink and brown,
So all attention swiftly goes
From wrinkle and from frown...
Your lips are quite unmissable!
You almost seem to smile...
Your lips are almost kissable,
In fact, they quite beguile...
I daren't look into your eyes!
You're so fast on your feet...
To keep my distance seems so wise,
Because I'm mostly meat!
You Himalayan spirit, dear,
Who knows, we could be friends!
But you stay there and I'll stay here
Until our meeting ends...
Denis Martindale, copyright, July 2010.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Himalayan Spirit'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Vantage Point
This tree was his, he'd staked his claim,
Yes, every leaf and twig...
The leopard watched approaching game,
No matter, small or big...
He circled round to catch the sights,
To memorise them all...
And while he savoured these delights,
Made sure he didn't fall.
His old tree wasn't quite as good,
This served his purpose well...
As he surveyed his neighbourhood,
Its magic weaved its spell...
This was a land he'd learnt to love,
The best that he could roam,
A palace where he'd rule above,
A kingdom near his home...
Yes, life was good, for him at least,
Yet not for those below...
For they'd learnt fast to fear the beast,
To count him as their foe...
The predator looked sleek, sublime,
Alert both night and day...
Yet from his vantage point, in time,
He'd take your breath away...
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Vantage Point'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Private View
The leopard saw the tree ahead
And chose to check it out
And that is where his footsteps led,
No more to scout about...
He climbed the tree serenely calm,
To scan the land around
And so as not to raise alarm,
He barely made a sound...
How gingerly he walked on high,
As if above it all,
Yet not possessing wings to fly,
Was careful not to fall...
A gentle breeze brought no fresh scents
To help him find his prey
And since he saw no other friends,
He paused his paws to stay...
His private view brought sweet relief
With shade to cool him down,
Quite cosy, comfy, couched beneath,
He laid on bark so brown...
Now he could keep his soft embrace,
Surveying all in style...
This was his spot, his special place,
His palace for a while...
Denis Martindale, copyright, November 2011.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Private View'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Eye Of The Leopard
Determination serves him well,
Tenacity and truth...
The leopard knows life's weary spell!
He's felt it from his youth.
He must not sleep! His eye must see!
There's danger all around!
This is the price of living free,
Undaunted and unbound.
The leopard loiters, sniffs the air,
His eye looks left and right...
Of every movement he's aware
Through instincts and insight...
Each day's the same, if he survives,
To tread the earth alone,
To hunt in search of other lives,
Because that's all he's known...
His hunger drives him on and on...
Relentless, still, of course...
He hunts until the hunger's gone,
Then feeds without remorse.
His eye has seen so many things
That swim and crawl and fly...
Above him now, a pair of wings
That glide across the sky!
The leopard sighs with envy at
The bird beyond his reach!
If he had wings, he'd make him scat!
What tricks that bird he'd teach!
The leopard looks, then walks his way,
Towards survival's end...
So he can hunt another day,
Unloved, without a friend...
The poem is based on the National Geographic Wild HD details
received from Sky Digital for the September 2009 programme
called 'Eye Of The Leopard'. Fully featured on pages 20 and 21
of the September 2009 Sky Magazine!
I can well imagine wildlife artist Stephen Gayford painting this!
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Winter Finery
The lone wolf stared upon the hill,
Upbeat, for all to see,
As if to watch him was a thrill
In Winter finery,
With coat so thick, it kept him warm,
Against the Winter wind,
So he survived the swirling storm
And simply howled and grinned...
The other creatures weren't so blessed,
With gritted teeth, no smiles
And jealous that he was well dressed
With strength to run for miles...
Life isn't fair to one and all
And yet who could they blame?
They merely stared and watched snow fall...
So random without aim...
The wolf would last the Winter through,
Just one day at a time,
By doing what he had to do,
Though some think that's a crime...
Survival tactics, hunting skills,
Tenfold tenacity,
No conscience anytime he kills...
There, my friends, the pity...
Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2012.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Winter Finery'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Arctic Sun II
The white wolf danced at break of day
With sunshine beating down,
Upon the snow to melt away
Old Mother Nature's gown...
The hunting hadn't gone so well,
But Spring was in the air!
Good riddance to cold Winter's spell
And to its sad despair...
Roll on the lengthening of hours
That sunshine would impart
And precious strengthening of powers
That stirred within his heart!
Begone the biting storms and winds!
Let gentle breezes blow!
Be glad, all creatures! Now begins
The seasons waters flow!
The white wolf danced with utmost glee!
Goodbye to loneliness!
And so he frolicked, fancy free,
His new hopes to caress!
And as he danced on yonder hill,
I danced right there and then!
He stared amazed to see such skill
And howled and danced again!
Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2010.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Arctic Sun II'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Snow Wolf
Distinctive markings on his coat
Disguise the snow wolf well,
As if the snow had kissed his throat
So that we couldn't tell...
Yet close up through binoculars,
We see that canine face
And suddenly our memory jars
With warnings we can trace...
This is no gentle friend of Man,
In whom we'd grant our trust,
But rather one we'd choose to ban,
Because we simply must...
Each creature that survives on Earth
Has something new to say...
And wildlife paintings prove their worth
Each time we gaze their way...
He's not a trophy that I'd choose
To grace my hearth and home,
Yet at a painting I'd peruse,
Just like I'd read a poem...
We know he can be terrible
And frightening, night or day...
Yet isn't he quite beautiful?
Majestic in a way...
Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2010.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Snow Wolf'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!