Thomas Hardy
End of the Year 1912
You were here at his young beginning,
  You are not here at his agèd end;
Off he coaxed you from Life’s mad spinning,
  Lest you should see his form extend
    Shivering, sighing,
    Slowly dying,
  And a tear on him expend.
So it comes that we stand lonely
  In the star-lit avenue,
Dropping broken lipwords only,
  For we hear no songs from you,
    Such as flew here
    For the new year
  Once, while six bells swung thereto.