A Careful Tango with a Tiger

"Angela will be there tonight,"
My worried husband sighed
I swallowed hard and met his gaze
"I'll be OK!" I lied

I had once been greatly honoured
To count amongst her friends.
I've seen her work on enemies;
How they all met sorry ends

A woman who delights and gloats
In miserable feats
Who wields a subtle knife of fear
In everyone she meets

Whose empty life made a bully
compelled to hurt and twist
The lives of others that are blessed
With that which hers has missed

We went to dine with mutual friends
(All felt rather silly)
Her manipulations cooled the
Atmosphere to chilly

We rolled our eyes in quiet ire
As Angela began
To stir and plot, in rude attack
The victim of her plan

My husband saw her nastiness
And glided by my side
He kissed and cooed and flattered me
Like a new wedded bride

Her nonsense then proved impotent
She waltzed off in the dark
To pick on someone vunerable
Sought out an easy mark

The night was done, we had survived
No fear of reprisal
That's what you get when husbands help
Tango with a tiger

(36 lines)
ABCB rhyming pattern and 8/6 alternating syllabic rhythym