The lion's eyes looked dead ahead, <br />No smile or smirk in sight, <br />Just sending out a sense of dread <br />That others may take flight... <br />Why fight if you can run away? <br />Escape the pain and strife... <br />Born free to see another day, <br />Another day of life... <br /> <br />The lion's mouth concealed his teeth, <br />Small daggers every one, <br />So sharp they'd cause you instant grief <br />Before the battle's won... <br />And 'neath his dainty-looking paws, <br />So gentle, silky-soft, <br />He hid his vicious callous claws <br />In wait for those who scoffed... <br /> <br />It's true that he had battle scars, <br />Yet he had learnt his trade, <br />No longer thinking it a farce, <br />A game that lions played... <br />One lion wins, it can't be two... <br />One lion takes the prize! <br />That's why he'll do what he must do... <br />Look deep into his eyes.... <br /> <br /> <br />Denis Martindale, copyright, June 2010. <br /> <br />The poem is based on the magnificent painting <br />by Stephen Gayford called 'Battle Scars'. <br /> <br />More Stephen Gayford poems here: <br />denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com<br /><br />Denis Martindale<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/battle-scars-6/
