Quiet Contemplation...

The cheetah checked the local scene, Not hunting, just aware, With nothing new to intervene, His heartbeat steady there... When sometimes eyelids start to fall, But sleep's the risk to take, That's why he sighed, surveying all, As if still on his break... He had to pace himself, of course, He couldn't run all day, Nor could he go on distant tours From his homeland to stray... For now, when peace was all around, He savoured what he could, Enjoyed all the calm he found Because it felt so good... In contemplation, such as this, The cheetah was relaxed, Absorbing minutes of pure bliss, Not stressed or tensed or taxed... His nerves were soothed by quiet repose, The sort so rarely shown, The kind a cheetah seldom knows Until he's on his own... Denis Martindale, copyright, November 2013. The poem is based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'Quiet Contemplation'. Search poemhunter for Stephen Gayford poetry or try a search engine for Denis Martindale blogspot poems.