Quietly, unannounced, unbidden
tears from the soul appear,
eyes momentarily overflowing,
memory turns again toward light.

Tears from the soul appear,
washing pain from secret places.
memory turns again toward light,
loneliness, longing, unrequited love.

Washing pain from secret places
dream labours phantom child reborn.
Loneliness, longing, unrequited love
tugs an unused corner of my heart.

Dream labours phantom child reborn,
eyes momentarily overflowing,
that love will always be ungiven,
Quietly, unannounced, unbidden.

Childless Moments (A Pantoum)
© Patricia Cresswell, 2002