Cheetah!

The cheetah nestled in disguise Amid the scenery, Awaiting still what God supplies To creatures such as he... Yet I could see that cheetah's stare At anything that moved, The patience that he brought to bear As hunting skills improved... Was he alone? I couldn't say, That's why I stayed alert, No reason now to walk away And suddenly get hurt... My admiration kept in check, I scanned both left and right, No other head, no other neck, No creature taking flight... And so we waited, cat and man, Two strangers 'neath the sun, Obedient to Nature's plan When hunting must be done... Then all at once the cheetah leapt, His dinner had arrived, Another date with death was kept, Two out of three survived... Denis Martindale, copyright, February 2015. Poem based on a magnificent wildlife painting, by artist Stephen Gayford nb Google-search gayfordgallery and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.