Regal Presence Poem by Denis Martindale

At first, of course, I had to stare,
Snow leopards blend so well,
Yet when I saw him nestled there,
I heard that warning bell...
His regal presence calmed my heart,
He was so self-assured,
As if to him, it was an art,
Perfected, never flawed...

My camera clicked each time he moved,
No matter, left or right,
My soul at rest and somehow soothed,
By gentleness in sight...
As long as he could not see me,
The photos were sublime,
Amid the wondrous scenery,
Where we both spent our time...

To think, that Man appreciates
The big cats and the small,
It's almost like Man celebrates
The wonder of it all...
Snow leopards brave the coldest days
And through them all endure,
Perhaps that's worthy of Man's praise,
Our courage to restore...