THE END OF THINGS
The aim of the heavens, the end of the earth—
What a measureless sweep, what a mighty girth,
From the far off first to the end of all things!
The end of the rose, which fades in a day,
The purpose of the plant an age on the way—
I dream of Beauty in the end of things.
The end of all men, and the end of myself,
From the artist great to the smallest elf,
Our thoughts and our deeds in the end of things.
The fate of the infants who die without ken,
Of their growth and knowledge, God’s super-men—
What developments vast in the end of things!
The issue of thousands and millions of slain,
The end of all wars, and the victor’s sure gain—
There’s a league worth while, toward the end of things;
A league of the nations, the long coming star
The prophets of old fore-glimpsed from afar,
A brotherhood true toward the close of things.
The last of the martyr, who passed with a prayer,
The last for the felon, who died in despair—
All good and all ill in the end of things?
We know but in part, yet co-workers are we
In a scheme as complete as eternity—
In the far off final, and fulfillment of things.
It delights one to think, we’re only in school,
That our joys and our woes do not mean mis-rule,
In God’s plan for the race to the end of things.
In this purpose of His the rose will uncover;
In its family great we’ll at length discover
The sweet Rose of Sharon, the completion of things;
In the plants by the waters, that quicken and die,
But give out their riches unstinted, nor sigh,
The Lily of the Valley, the Goal of all things.
The song of the Thrush and of plaintive Nightingale
Will merge with the Master’s glorious “all hail,”
In harmony perfect in the end of things.
St. John, the inspired, saw horses in heaven,
And I love to believe even they will be given
Some happier part in the end of all things.
The best of our words and our ways here forgot
Will be gathered and treasured in a hallowed lot,
Exalted in place at the end of things—
God’s men as the angels and angels as men,
Ah, the little child too shall be received then,
In love of the Highest, in the end of all things.