It was the third of September when the grapevine whispered
that I was not good enough
that she was not interested
and never would be
and I stuttered in response:
“That’s all right. I don’t need anyone’s approval
but my own.

“I walk my own line
and I’m fine if others don’t see in me
what could be.
I can see excellence in the mirror
and that is all that I need.

“I don’t mind
if the rest do not find in me
the greatest sort of being.
If they’re not seeing gold
I’ll just go on making my own mold
(whatever that may mean).
If I’m venting my spleen,
it’s just because I don’t care
about what anybody else says anymore.”

“This the kind of grandstanding bullshit”
The grapevine told me,
“that really turned her off.”
To which I replied with my very most elegant “oh.”