^{By Annette Gagliardi}

She is free to speak--
free to speak her mind.
She can never mind that hand
held up
as if to stop her talk.

She can speak if she wants to.
All she needs to know
_{^{(to continue)}} is
what her talk
will get her.

She has no need to hold her tongue.
She has no call to remain silent.
Speak up! He says. . . . .
and he means it.

She can speak freely.
She can say what’s on her mind,
as long as it doesn’t offend--
as long as she can pretend--
that what she wants to say
is what he wants to hear.


She is free to speak -
free to speak her mind
and let her thoughts unwind
to air out her soul.
But, let her not go--to far
as to cause him discomfort.

But even if she does-
go - - -
too far.

She is free, . . . . . . .free to suffer the consequences.