Tiger!

The tiger had no time for me, He sought another prize, As yet that was a mystery, Not seen by human eyes... Yet yonder tiger knew full well And bared his strong white teeth, As if to march straight into Hell, Come triumph or come grief... I stood my ground and breathed real slow And stared at such a sight, As yonder tiger chose to go In search of one more fight... I gulped to think of damage done, The scars he yet might bear, But on he strode beneath God's sun, To bite and scratch and tear... The battle raged, as battles do, Two tigers bent on hate, Determined yet to see it through, Regardless of their fate... Yet both survived... so I walked on, Recalling now and then, Win, lose or draw, that day has gone, No more to come again... Denis Martindale, copyright December 2015. Poem based on a magnificent wildlife painting, by artist Stephen Gayford. Google-search gayfordgallery and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.