Ambush

The leopard laid low to ambush Whatever came his way. When hunger gives big cats a push, They'll hunt the livelong day. His whiskers twitched as tensions grew, He dare not tap his toes, He merely crouched, maintained his view Of passing friends and foes... His back was stretched, at peace for now, No awkward pains to bear... While he was poised with furrowed brow And one almighty stare! He licked his lips imagining The thrill the chase would be, The feast the drawn-out day could bring If all went hopefully... His stomach rumbled without shame! He licked his lips again! He lacked all guilt, all sense of blame, Until the moment when All hell broke loose, the chase was on! His body was a blur... And suddenly! One life was gone, His mouth was full of fur... Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2010. The poem is based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'Ambush'.