Ranthambhore Dawn

On waking up, the tiger stood, His four paws held his weight And so he roamed the neighbourhood And didn't hesitate... The land was his and his by right, No other tiger near, He saw no reason for a fight, No foe had he to fear... The dawn was like all dawns before, So he went for a stroll, As if with poise none could ignore, With regal self-control... His tail swished left and right at will, Contendedly, in fact, Till all at once it slumped, quite still, So what made it react? A sudden breeze had chilled the air, His ears twitched with dismay, His heart responded with despair, Like storms were on their way... Yet precious thoughts then came to mind, He knew a hiding place And so he left such cares behind, A broad smile on his face... Denis Martindale, copyright, July 2015. Poem based on a magnificent wildlife painting, by artist Stephen Gayford nb Google-search gayfordgallery and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.