I couldn’t say that

You must understand.

Why bring it up?

It’s out of my hands.

When I look at her

seething

my wrath burning deep,

no courage is found

to utter a peep.

But away from her presence,

boy, am I free!

To sigh and sneer,

cackle and creep.

I feel powerful

when she is away

to let my deceitful tongue sway,

to feign my respect from day to day.

But with such power

I’m stripped of peace.

The recompense of cowardly speech.