Catnap

The tiger looked with expert eyes, Content to see for miles... And in his own eyes he was wise, His black heart full of wiles... There was no doubt within his mind, This was the time to choose... A better time he wouldn't find For him to have a snooze... He stretched his awesome long legs out, Then curled up in a ball... Quite sure there was no-one about, His catnap came to call... His eyelids drooped, like weary tails, Their blackness dead ahead... And nothing short of fearsome gales Could open them instead... Deep breaths and he was on his way, To where all tigers go, When big cats' dreams they must obey And this each one must know... His whiskers flopped like withered strings, No longer tight and taut... So much for tigers thought as kings, If by his dreams, he's caught... The poem is based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'Catnap'. The Stephen Gayford poems can be viewed here: denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com