The leopard gamely woke from sleep
To greet the sun again,
He had a vigil he must keep
And couldn't rest till then...
Survival first, survey the land,
Learn what's about as well,
Stroll the morning patrol as planned,
Then settle for a spell...
Of course, he chose to do things right,
To make sure he was safe,
Who knows what's happened in the night?
Stay wise and not just brave...
Mind you, he was as tough as boots,
If push should come to shove,
No chance of that just eating fruits
Some creatures seem to love...
That was his motto all the time,
Exploring landscapes new,
How else could he stay in his prime
To do what he must do?
This leopard was a lonesome soul,
His shadow walked beside,
Silent friends on morning patrol,
With no-one else as guide...
Denis Martindale, copyright, May 2014.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting by
Stephen Gayford, nb Google search gayfordgallery.
Find more wildlife poems using Google search
for the search phrase Stephen Gayford poetry.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
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