Thomas Hardy

The Announcement

They came, the brothers, and took two chairs
In their usual quiet way;
And for a time we did not think
They had much to say.

And they began and talked awhile
Of ordinary things,
Till spread that silence in the room
A pent thought brings.

And then they said: ‘The end has come.
Yes: it has come at last.’
And we looked down, and knew that day
A spirit had passed.