Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

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 finger 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.

Themes

• Gender Expectations
• Marriage
• Societal Pressure
• Oppression

Poetic Techniques

• Assonance
• Alliteration

Imagery

• Tigers in the jungle
• Woman embroidering
• Woman in coffin

Rhyming Pattern

AABB CCDD EEFF

Mood + Tone

• Pensive
• Sad
• Sombre
• Reflective

Symbolism

Symbol	Meaning
Tiger	The freedom + desires of Aunt Jennifer
Wedding Ring	Oppression, societal pressure
Embroidery	Path of life

Quotes

They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.