Whatever They Say

whatever they say I still will know
no matter how long on earth I grow
that leaves talk to me in the wind

pine needles too.
that the dew on the lawn could be diamonds
if we just gathered it fast enough

that inside of me are secrets I will not give up
from the time they label as childhood.
it will be my language always

the language I understand
the music most near at hand
and the fairy tales most of all,

I vowed that day
never to betray.
you can believe that or not.
whatever they say.

mary angela douglas 26 january 2018