Distinguished! Poem by Denis Martindale

Distinguished though the leopard seemed,
He still recalled his past,
As if at rest, in thoughts he dreamed,
Yet knowing these can't last...
As if his destiny were planned,
He knew he must succeed,
For as an adult, he looked grand,
The alpha male, indeed...

That's why he didn't rush love's game,
Nor seek a female friend,
Content in what his life became,
He thought it couldn't end...
But then Man came, to take the trees,
His precious land to roam,
In time, to bring him to his knees,
Alone, without a home...

Unstopped, Man always gets his way,
Distinguished by desires,
The forests plundered, lands decay,
To please the city buyers...
Yet leopards couldn't say their prayers,
For God's grace to implore,
They'd simply hide where no man stares...
Till doomed for evermore...


Denis Martindale, copyright, August 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.