Leopard Lookout Poem by Denis Martindale

The leopard lingered there and then surveying land below,
Before he slinkered off again to where he chose to go.
No other creatures could he see as he looked left and right,
And no wonder he felt lonely, no leopardess in sight.
He laid his head above his paws and stared straight at the sky,
Oblivious to God, of course, or else he'd ask God why.
He'd ask the questions young folks pray when lonely seeking love,
But he could only walk away, and leave his thoughts above.

He wandered down the mountain slope, toward the pool he saw,
Devoid of joy, devoid of hope, no reason to explore.
But all at once he saw her there, his dreamed-for mate for life,
Just like a man whose answered prayer provided him a wife.
If all went well, true happiness, if not, more empty days,
All he could do was stare and guess, and yet love her always.
Some creatures know this sense of awe, this inward reverence,
While others see this as a flaw as if it makes no sense.

The leopard strode into the pool, the leopardess looked round,
She stayed a while and played it cool, and didn't make a sound.
The moment that their eyes had met, it was like time stood still,
That feeling neither would forget, it had a certain thrill.
Perhaps it took a miracle for both of them to meet,
As love flowed like a waterfall to make their lives complete.
I envy them their share of bliss, their share of answered prayer,
I simply can't help stating this, I'm glad I saw them there.


Denis Martindale, the 2nd of October 2023.


The poem is based on the magnificent painting
entitled as Leopard Lookout by UK wildlife artist
Stephen Gayford. It's more special to me as only
300 prints got sold in 2014. This is the first time
I've seen the picture to be able to write about it.