Soft boy

A poem for boys in a world that tells them they must be tough

You can also watch this one being read on video at the bottom of this post.

My Soft Boy

Let him know softness. Warmth, closeness, I mean. Let him long for lazy Sundays. Let him know fleecy blankets and special cushions, whipped pink frosting on cupcakes and crying at the end of a great book. Let him love the smell of clean washing and the feel of slipper socks 

as well as cricket bats and computer games, let him love cartwheels on the grass and collecting conkers to make art. Let him cradle a doll under his arm and guard the path to protect a ladybird. Let him say no to the joke that might lead to harm. When the world offers him the darks of grey and blue let him know that he can drench himself in pinks and lilacs and yellows,

let him know how it feels to be greeted by friends with a long-held hug and be texted the words, “are you alright today?” and be able to reply, “actually, I’m not,” and that be ok. Let him receive cards in the post containing poetry and let him feel goosebumps from hitting the top note in the choir and let him shimmy his beautiful body across the dancefloor when the DJ is playing a love song, let him enjoy love songs, love stories, let him lose himself in love,

let him know how to wrap presents with care and ask for flowers by name and comment out-loud on the style of a friend’s hair. Let him know the quiet, the curve of his own arms, let him find time to tend to his own sun-freckled skin, know how to run a great bubble bath, let him feel that bath bombs and snuggles in bed and jammies with hearts on are for him,

let him feel able to whisper, tip toe lightly, care for other peoples hearts, let him know what it feels like to tend to his own heart, let him remember he was made from stardust, let someone offer him a ride home.