Aunt Eva, the Wild Woman

A vibrant, wild woman took center stage at every family wedding or party Long, flowing locks even in old age, she always embarrassed her brother Artie Once statuesque at nearly six feet tall, Eva was a sight to behold at buffets Plate upon plate, she piled food so high; restaurant owners said she ate with craze Bubbling with energy that radiated, this former beauty queen knew how to dance As a child she led me to the floor; we’d Charleston! Wild woman sure could prance! As a teen she’d fallen into Hudson Bay; she learned how to swim, suffered no harm She repaid the favor by training nearly every Jersey Shore lifeguard Her tales were many and some seemed tall, especially to a child so small But the one about dolphins saving her from sharks could certainly enthrall Her loudly ticking old-time video camera was heard each time I was in a play She never missed a performance, though she may have stood in the audience’s way And Bob Hope called her up on stage when she and her camera stole his show In saintly splendor she revels now, still radiating that winsome glow Dedicated to my dear Aunt Eva.