Last week, American poet Adrienne Rich died at 82 of complications from rheumatoid arthritis. She is one of the first feminists I remember reading, and the poem I remember reading first was this one:
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 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.
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7 comments:
Don't know how I missed this news. I enjoyed her poetry as well-- especially the poem you shared here. Sad news.
This is one of my favorite poems.
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She was a great poet and a great activist, one of those people whose work fused art and struggle gracefully, passionately, and brilliantly. She brought a fierceness to the world that we’re all the better for.
She has great contribution to poetry and I'm sure she will be remembered. Rest in peace adrienne Rich.
Another fav.: " Trying To Talk To A Man ", by Adrienne Rich ( "...you look at me like an emergency..." < love it.)
Jesus, have mercy on her soul...
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