The tigers have arrived 
They’re all lined up, boldly striping 
the summer with the orange of their being 

Uncaged, they stand with their feet planted 
at the sunny side of the house 
They sway in the hot breeze 

If you listen carefully you can hear them 
panting Sometimes in the soft night 
you can see their eyes glow 

This poem first appeared in the July 2008 (#96) issue of Free Verse. 
© by Phyllis Wax.
Used here with the author’s permission.