Softening

When we first met, I could name rivulets
after each of my sorrows, see devil's horns
in mountains, and even loathe the trees
for their nymph-like posture, but

- excellent metaphors here, I have never seem them used before and they offer a uniqueness to your poem and your style of writing. I really was draw in by the tone of inner confidence, like you had none, like you felt no hope or happiness around you and no matter where you looked you just seen evil and pain around you. Nothing made you happy or nothing looked to be as it seemed. I guess this shows the insecurity inside of us that happens when we have been hurt. But... the but at the end here leaves hope because it implies things are about to change.

your touch was the rain that lured snails
out of their leafy refuge; never fed salt with your
sweaty palms, just a saccharine scrub that curved
with my blushing skin, and I know I owe you
even the leftover poetry in the corners
of my lips.

- I take this second part to be that someone came and rescued you fromt hat place you were at in the beginning, The place where you could not see anything hopeful around you and perhaps did not even believe in love. I love the idea of the rain being good here because it shows how some people/things/creatures need the rain and want it.

I like this story and the way you tell it. Offering the before and after picture, and then leaving the reader with the final thought that you owe this person your words because perhaps without them, you would not have the words to say. I love the poetry being on the corner of your lips also, like even the ones that have not been said yet, you still would owe that to them.

Nice work. I like the title because I think it shows the transition that someone is softening you up to believe in love, and yourself again.