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.