The Old Campaigner

The lion king had lived life well, Fought battles and he'd won And now he paused to rest a spell, To muse on all he'd done. Inflicting wounds on lesser foes, Reminding them who's boss, Yes, face-to-face and nose-to-nose, Yet never facing loss... To these, he was the alpha male, The lion king and more, The lion who could never fail To settle every score. To these, he was the champion, As if he were ordained, The one they were relying on Because of all he'd gained... The old campaigner stood his ground, Defiant to the last, The lion king who was self-crowned, Whose life had almost past... But while he strode his sovereign land, He ruled with just a stare... For who would challenge one so grand, Whose stature said, 'Beware! '? Denis Martindale, copyright, April 2011. The poem is based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'The Old Campaigner'. More Stephen Gayford poems here: denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com