soft

i choose to remain soft for

the versions of me with

bones laced with bitterness—

i had to mend

dance, dance, dancing

exposed feet draped in

shredded skin that

fell apart

i choose to remain soft for

the version of me with

a tongue rotted by anger—

i had to mutilate

listen, listen, listening

the continuous loud silence that

rippled and tore through

ears that cowered and bled

i choose to remain soft for

the version of me with

a hardened heart—

i had to bury

watch, watch, watching

and so, i choose to remain soft for

the versions of me that

didn’t survive this world and

the versions of me that will