Banyan Tiger Poem by Denis Martindale

Among the trees the tiger trod,
A striking sight to see,
Yet close-up you could think him odd,
Despite such majesty...
His propped-up ears above his head,
His whiskers twitching still,
Yet if you've paused and haven't fled,
You're bound to feel a thrill...

The biggest big cat of them all,
Twelve foot from nose-to-tail,
Enough to make a strong man fall,
Or tread soft on the trail...
The tiger knows his way around,
He's walked this path before,
So less surprises to be found,
Of that you can be sure...

So be advised, safe distance keep,
That Banyan tiger's wise,
He knows the times to run or creep,
Or stay still in disguise...
Let tourists visit, walk and roam,
Let tourists smile all day,
But as for me, I'll stay at home,
Much safer, friends, that way...


Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2013.


The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Banyan Tiger'.