Kayla Montgomery Poet Free verse

Soft

Soft like the skin of a baby 
Like the ocean on a quiet night, not a breeze to be blown
Soft like the breath of a child hiding under her desk 
Like the whispers of her teacher as she locks the door
The soft steps of anger through an empty hallway
Her soft hair as it absorbs what she once was and could have been
Soft silk of a casket she lies in after she takes her last breath
Soft, are the cries of a childless mother 
Soft are the prayers of the local church 
Soft is the sentence he will receive 
Because soft is the government who oversees

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Alison A Smith October 4, 2026 at 12:05 AM “Soft” is a powerful free-verse poem about school violence, grief, and institutional failure. Its central technique is repetition: each return to “soft” begins with comfort—baby skin, a calm ocean, a child’s breath—then becomes chilling as softness is attached to fear, death, mourning, and an inadequate sentence.

Unseeking Seeker October 3, 2026 at 7:42 PM Poignant and sorrowful