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.