Two Lion Cubs

Two lion cubs, as thick as thieves, Stretching and sprawling there, As to each other each one cleaves, Content, without a care... They knew, of course, that they were small, No strengths as such to tell And yet they felt no fear at all, As if each day went well... Their parents guarded near and far, That's why the two cubs played, Enjoying their own Shangri-La, With neither one dismayed... To gaze into each other's eyes, To learn each other's moods, The little roars, the little sighs, The soothing interludes... But most of all enjoying life, The sunshine and the peace, Because to these, there seemed no strife To cause their joys to cease... And so their first few weeks trailed by, As gentle as could be, With neither cub to question why They felt such harmony... Denis Martindale, copyright November 2015. Poem based on a magnificent wildlife painting, by artist Stephen Gayford. Google-search gayfordgallery and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.