Watching You, Watching Me... Poem by Denis Martindale

My camera clicked, the cheetah stared,
Its glaring eyes set straight
And nothing else on Earth compared
To when I felt its hate...
Yet I pressed on, despite its rage,
Though I gulped now and then,
For I'm not young and felt my age,
Not fit to run again...

But I felt safe, my jeep was close,
The cheetah had no clue,
Yet I was glad it chose to pose,
No other thing to do...
I took my pictures one by one,
As if its soul to take
And even started having fun
Till our truce took a break...

The cheetah moved a single paw,
That was enough for me!
I wasn't staying anymore,
I've so much more to see...
Once in the jeep, I sped away,
As fast as it would go,
Content to live another day,
A scaredy-cat... I know...


Denis Martindale, copyright January 2016.


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