Thomas Hardy - End of the Year 1912 lyrics

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.