avatarDennett

Summary

"Soft Like Me" is a poem reflecting on the vulnerabilities of being soft-hearted, inspired by a conversation with the author's granddaughter and echoing Langston Hughes' sentiment about authenticity.

Abstract

The poem "Soft Like Me" delves into the delicate nature of the speaker's grandmother, characterized by her softness, roundness, and a voice as smooth as fur. The granddaughter's desire to emulate this softness is met with a cautionary response from the grandmother, who acknowledges the challenges of being soft in a world that exploits gentleness. The poem describes the hardships faced by soft-hearted individuals, including the pain of being used by others and the constant heartache that comes with their compassionate nature. The grandmother advises against being too soft, as it can lead to a life of suffering and invisibility. The narrative is reminiscent of a real conversation between the author and their granddaughter, emphasizing the importance of being kind and gentle without losing one's resilience, as inspired by a prompt referencing Langston Hughes' belief in poets embracing their true selves.

Opinions

  • The author's grandmother represents an ideal of softness and gentleness but also warns of its potential downsides.
  • The poem suggests that soft-hearted individuals are often taken advantage of and their kindness is not always reciprocated.
  • There is a concern that being too soft can lead to a life filled with sorrow and a sense of being unappreciated.
  • The grandmother's advice implies a balance between kindness and strength, advocating for resilience in the face of life's challenges.
  • The poem resonates with Langston Hughes' idea that poets, and by extension individuals, should not be afraid to be themselves, even if that means being strong rather than just soft.

Soft Like Me

A poem inspired by Langston Hughes

Photo by Christian Bowen on Unsplash

Abuela perfecta — soft, round, fluffy, no hard edges, voice smooth as fur, hermosa sonrisa.

I want to be soft like you!

No, mi nieta, be kind, be gentle but not soft like me.

Existence is tough for soft ones, our lives belong to others, who pick and pilfer the soft, using it as a pillow to ease their heavy heads while we sleep on stone.

The hearts of soft ones break a billion times, pieces scattered and lost on the dry, caked earth, stepped upon and trampled, ground to dust that fierce winds disperse like shriveled rose petals.

Our tears never stop, Our eyes never dry, Our hearts never heal.

No, child, don’t be soft like me.

abuela perfecta — perfect grandmother

hermosa sonrisa — beautiful smile

mi nieta — my granddaughter

This poem is very similar to a conversation I had with my granddaughter when she was five and is in response to this prompt by David S.:

This Happened To Me
Poetry
Heartbreak
Grandmother
Granddaughter
Recommended from ReadMedium
avatarMarlena Hirsch
Gardening with Nature

Recognizing kinship with animals

4 min read
avatarSam Aureli
Beyond the Echo Chamber

Voices in My Head Series | Bridging Divides in a Fragmented World

1 min read
avatarMonoreena Acharjee Majumdar
Academy of Silence

Vacant Cloud, Hush Cafe, Catching the Ray

3 min read
avatarIan Hanson
Anthropomorphism

June Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Black & White —  Freestyle”

2 min read
avatarDennett
Our Deep Condolences

Dealing with death

4 min read
avatarJeffery Smith
The Impact of Remote Work on My Children

My son said something that was a little alarming and troubling which has led me to deep thinking about the impact of remote work. My son…

4 min read