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.