Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
(Adrienne Rich)
More Poetry from Adrienne Rich:
Adrienne Rich Poems based on Topics: Man, Nature, World- From a Survivor (Adrienne Rich Poems)
- Diving into the Wreck (Adrienne Rich Poems)
- Moving in Winter (Adrienne Rich Poems)
- Living In Sin (Adrienne Rich Poems)
- Two Songs (Adrienne Rich Poems)
- Snapshots of a Daughter-In-Law (Adrienne Rich Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, World Poems, Nature PoemsBased on Keywords: unafraid, ringed, tigers, prancing, prance, panel, topaz, mastered, denizens, chivalric, jennifer