The lion stared with gemstone eyes <br />And heard with ears erect, <br />Alert and focussed, sternly wise <br />At all he could inspect. <br />No more the cub content to play <br />Or waste his precious time, <br />For suddenly there came the day, <br />They saw him in his prime... <br /> <br />The world had changed, new thoughts were born, <br />He hunted with the rest, <br />He stood as high as golden corn, <br />Content he'd passed each test... <br />The future grants a destiny <br />Each lion must embrace, <br />With royalty and majesty <br />Throughout his adult days... <br /> <br />Dappled sunlight caressed his brow, <br />Did more than keep him warm, <br />It showed us all how he looked now, <br />In stature and in form. <br />Dappled sunlight caressed his coat, <br />To show each forehead frown, <br />As if to show each line God wrote <br />Upon his noble crown. <br /> <br /> <br />Denis Martindale, copyright, August 2010. <br /> <br /> <br />The poem is based on the magnificent painting <br />by Stephen Gayford called 'Dappled Sunlight'. <br /> <br />More Stephen Gayford poems here: <br />denis-martindale-dot-blogspot.com<br /><br />Denis Martindale<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dappled-sunlight/
