How it came to an end!

The meeting afar from the crowd,

And the love-looks and laughters unpenned,

The parting when much was avowed,

   How it came to an end!

   It came to an end;

Yes, the outgazing over the stream,

With the sun on each serpentine bend,

Or, later, the luring moon-gleam;

   It came to an end.

   It came to an end,

The housebuilding, furnishing, planting,

As if there were ages to spend

In welcoming, feasting, and jaunting;

   It came to an end.

   It came to an end,

That journey of one day a week:

(“It always goes on,” said a friend,

“Just the same in bright weathers or bleak;”)

   But it came to an end.

   “How will come to an end

This orbit so smoothly begun,

Unless some convulsion attend?”

I often said.  “What will be done

   When it comes to an end?”

   Well, it came to an end

Quite silently—stopped without jerk;

Better close no prevision could lend;

Working out as One planned it should work

   Ere it came to an end.