The boy’s face says it all —
a difficult day for a gentle boy.
A reprimand in class
not easily shouldered,
he does his best to keep his cup of tears
from overflowing.
I am sure he is home now
chatting with his mother,
searching for his cat,
eating dinner.
Yet,
my heart still hurts
knowing days can be hard
for the genuine-hearted.
Over time,
life will build callouses,
layers of thickened skin
to guard the heart.
Such a shame
the world does not value
tenderness
in the same way it honors
toughness.
A Reading Life 
SO true! Your post brings tears to my eyes. I was one of the quiet, sensitive ones.
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Aw, this was so sweet.
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Such an insightful slice. You really notice the nuances and details of life. This line resonates-
“life will build callouses,
layers of thickened skin
to guard the heart.”
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I was reading this and recalling your earlier slice about the stuffed animal. Makes a nice “text set”. This is beautifully written about a subject not often written about.
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Beautifully captured. I love the tenderness vs. toughness juxtaposition.
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Aw-what a beautiful heart poem. Favorite lines are spot on and moving: “days can be hard/for the genuine-hearted” and “Such a shame/the world does not value/tenderness/in the same way it honors/toughness.” So damn true.
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