Young Stalker

Snow leopards stalk, sometimes to win, Averting hunger pains, Because it's as those aches begin, No gentle peace remains... Snow leopards must endure the cold That Winter always brings And each new meal's worth more than gold, Because starvation stings... No creature's safe from predators, No matter if they run, Eventually they come off worse, Beneath the moon or sun... It's true, some scatter high or low, Escaping now and then, But scavengers run to and fro To catch their prey again... Snow leopards have a stubborn streak So they can wait all day, Young stalkers play at hide-and-seek, Regardless, come what may... With hunger pains forever near, Snow leopards must persist, Thus tiny creatures live in fear Each second they exist... Denis Martindale, copyright, March 2013. The poem is based on the magnificent painting by Stephen Gayford called 'Young Stalker II'. More Stephen Gayford poems here: denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com