The Panther

Some say that breast cancer
Loves to go to the bones.

They also say I have arthritis
But the pain keeps coming back:

The Panther with his teeth in my groin
claws tearing my loins
I recite:
“Tyger, Tyger
Burning bright
In the forest of the night”
Like a mantra of
Incantatory powers
But it does no good
He frames my fearful symmetry
Tyger and Panther together
Like a story for a child
But not.