I hear your whispers

And feel your eyes

But you’ll never see my tears.

I won’t let my smile fade

In front of you.

Sticks and stones may break my bones,

But words will never hurt me.

I hear the words you form

And the things you say to convince

To twist, to mold, to brainwash

The others.

But I am strong,

And I am my own.

Sticks and Stones will break my bones.

You can say what you want

Ridicule if you must with words

That others have offended you with

I will walk away with a smile on my face.

And let the words sink into you.

Words will never hurt me.

I don’t need the dependence on you any longer

I don’t need your ears to listen

Nor your body to embrace.

Because in the end, after all the rumors you’ve spread about others.

The gossip is all about you.

Sticks and stones will break my bones.

But words break my heart.