The Reward of a Tender Heart

What is the reward of a tender heart?

Is it
to be crushed bruised and torn
to be disparaged
viewed as lowly, worthless?

Is it
to allow how it is handled
to cause it to grow
thick, rigid, coarse
truly useless?

Will it become a thing too onerous,
too exhausting to carry?

It is
to be sheer,
airy
and fillable by the slightest breeze.

It is
to remain
fleecy soft,
snuggle perfect
for comfort
on days of winter's worst.

It is to be
held gingerly
and guarded jealously
until it ceases.