Survival Instinct!

White tigers know a thing or two, Their senses are quite keen, But then it's knowing what to do, Stay still, serene or mean? The adult tiger knew much more Than that small cub that day And yet how could each one ignore When fear won't go away? The cub had everything to lose, Perhaps with no way out, With faith the instinct left to choose To overcome its doubt... For adult tigers do their best When instinct tells them to And so the cub its fear suppressed, Believing they'd get through... The safest place was there and then, No running off alone And just like counting upto ten Helps courage to be shown... This time, the danger gently past, This time, to disapppear... This time, no need to stay downcast, This time, the coast was clear... Denis Martindale, copyright, November 2013. A second poem based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'Instinct'. More Stephen Gayford poems here: denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com