Quietly in Love

I had never been so self-contained in love before;
every flicker of feeling had been analysed and discussed
by all concerned and many more
until the emotion lost its shine and was replaced.

We met when I was too young to know,
but still, surely, there was some recognition
of an attraction that would grow
and become the quietest love I ever had.

We see one another so rarely but still
I think of you often, gently, contentedly.
I don't need to shout it out, I never will,
I'll just be quietly in love.

Memories are sweeter than dreams
for they have been and cannot be undone.
Sometimes a thing is not as it seems:
I never know your mind.

Are you an echo of my future? I
can see a pain in your face
which I don't understand, although I try.
A pain I feel myself, occasionally.

One day I will lay my demons down to rest
and take up my life free of my dreams.
Perhaps dreams are sent to us as a test
of our strength to live a life we do not crave.

They say love is blind: maybe it's true,
and one day I will see that I'm a fool.
But now I'm content to continue
being quietly in love.