African Cape Buffalo Poem by Denis Martindale

When I first saw the buffalo,
Of course I was impressed,
How mighty must a creature grow
To stand out from the rest?
My camera zoomed in on his face,
His nostrils, eyes and horns,
I noticed how his every gaze
Just stares at you and warns...

To his own kind some warmth was shown,
To strangers, he just glared,
As if our presence to condone,
Despite the fact he cared...
If I approached, no welcome mat,
No hint of 'How'd you do? '
But I'd be told to promptly scat,
While his pure anger grew...

Despite the fact he looks sublime,
He sometimes turns quite mean,
So I'll stay here and bide my time,
Quite casual, serene...
No point in going in too close,
He runs too fast, you see,
Safe distance, then... Not friends, not foes...
That makes good sense to me!


Denis Martindale, copyright October 2015.


Poem based on a magnificent wildlife painting,
by artist Stephen Gayford. Google-search
gayfordgallery and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.