Gentle Persuasion

Hard outside.
Tender white soul
stays sweet,
cocooned
from harsh world.

Seeking, they come.
To ravage the
sweetness.
Smashing
into the ground.
Pounding
into the shell.
Striking
again and again,
till shattered,
the soul
is revealed.

Today,
I tapped gently.
Cajoled.
Persuaded.
Broke through
gradually
but surely.
The soul
broke open
of its own accord,
and poured
itself out to me.

I broke a coconut today - not by smashing but by gently tapping it. And it occurred to me - gentleness does work!!