Lying In Wait

The tiger played the waiting game... His heartbeat cool and calm. No doubts, no fears, no guilt, no shame And no sense of alarm. For all was still, sublime, serene, So tranquil and at ease... Apart from him, so cruel, so mean, Despite his golden fleece. The tiger strained his stretched back ears While hunger caused him grief... God only knows what noise he hears Behind his gritted teeth. The aching burden carried on, Tormenting deep within, As hunger's slave, his pride had gone, Yet he must not give in. The tiger sneered at such delays So unpredictable... And groaned at Nature's wily ways So unreliable... But come the evening, all went well, He'd had his fill once more... What tragic tales this beast could tell, So cold in tooth and claw... Denis Martindale, copyright, October 2010. The poem is based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'Lying In Wait II'. More Stephen Gayford poems here: denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com