Treading Water

The tired tiger made his way Until he found the stream, The sight of it had made his day, It truly was supreme... His whiskers twitched at newborn scents That stirred within the mud And yet he felt the recompense As water cooled his blood... This is the life! No doubt at all, Just walking here and there And further on, the waterfall, A sight beyond compare... Just treading water, nothing more, Content to rest therein, With oozing mud between each claw, Enough to make him grin... The tired tiger gently breathed, His heartbeat calmed as well, His shoulder muscles now relieved As Nature cast its spell... God makes the sunshine then the rain, Then streams upon the land, So tired tigers can't complain When times like these are planned... Denis Martindale, copyright, December 2011. The poem is based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'Treading Water'. More Stephen Gayford poems here: denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com