Harmony... Poem by Denis Martindale

Two tigers gazed with gentle eyes, serene with harmony,
Once true peace helped them realise their sweet reality.
No teeth, no claws, no cause to fight, no stern emergency,
Just tenderness and pure delight, when living fancy-free.
No temper tantrums that youth brings, if parents would allow,
No hate that harms, no stare that stings, they're all long gone by now.
No longer distanced or estranged, as they gaze brow to brow,
For all their hopes and dreams have changed, and rearranged somehow.

They need not ask, 'Will this endure, to last another day? '
They gently bask, not wanting more, contentedly to stay.
They sense that love has made this so, that trust has led the way,
So onward they both choose to go, new instincts to obey.
Does romance match the tigers' hearts, just as these two now are?
Can humans match what each imparts once they have set the bar?
Beyond a sudden, stolen kiss, if they would go that far?
Can humans imitate such bliss, this perfect Shangri-La?

A man and woman can find love, but can they pay the rent?
Or find there isn't quite enough when all their cash gets spent?
With rising prices every week, that come and won't relent,
Is harmony too much to seek, too high a sentiment?
The single life? It's not that great! It doesn't win the prize!
There's nothing much to celebrate, although it may seem wise.
It's firmly stationed on the ground, no chance to reach the skies!
It learns no Earth joys can astound to match those tigers' eyes!


Denis Martindale.22nd June 2026.


Here is a new creative artist style poem by the Poemhunter poet Denis Martindale. It is about yet another painting by the wildlife artist Stephen Gayford that the poet has never seen before. The title of the painting and the poem is HARMONY.

When the poet found this Stephen Gayford quote on the Internet, he decided to create a new poem to share, and the title is THE WILDLIFE ARTIST STEPHEN GAYFORD! The poet was reminded of Bob Ross and his TV show, The Joy of Painting. That joy wasn't an immediate experience for Stephen Gayford. The joy comes in time, with the professional print productions of the paintings created for thousands and millions of art buyers to appreciate for generations to come. This is beautifully portrayed in the YouTube video.

Here is what the UK wildlife artist Stephen Gayford said,

'Painting, for me, has never been a hobby. It's not a relaxing experience - I feel compelled, even driven to paint. I have heard professional writers and sportsmen say the same. Since I was twelve, I have always painted. It is a passion, a labour of love. I dislike front light (i.e. the sun behind the observer) . I prefer back light. Or side light, or diffused light. As on a cloudy or dusty day. I love dust and mist because it portrays the volume of air between the objects.'

'I start with little sketches in pencil on an A5-sized pad. I may do one, two or twelve until I get the right composition. When painting, I have a large mirror behind me, and I sometimes view the painting in reverse. If something in the painting doesn't feel right to me, it becomes obvious in the reflection, and I can then easily correct it. People often ask how long it takes for me to do a painting. The answer is, I don't really know. I work on between two and ten at once. I like paintings when I first start them, as they have a simplicity. And the more I work on them, sometimes the further away (from the original inspiration) they can become. So I start another one. By the time I have started the third or fourth one, I can return to the first and work on it with a new inspiration.'