Search for a beginning

How often have you heard it said,
"Now that's the end of that."
A common phrase we often hear
When with our friends we chat.

This phrase, so glibly used by all
Implies poor reasoning
For, when we think about it,
There's no end to anything.

Look closely at a piece of string.
"There's an end to that," you say.
But where's the end if you should turn
It round the other way?

Ah, strange it is. We were so sure.
Now, doubt its head has reared,
For, where the end was once in view,
A beginning has appeared!

I guess the lesson here is, that
When life seems oh, so blue,
We should back off and turn around
And take another view.

So, if you think all has gone wrong
And you've no hope of winning,
Yes, pray your troubles soon will end,
But search for a beginning.

There is no end to anything,
Fresh starts there are, a-plenty.
And that is true at eighty-one
Or the golden age of twenty.

-Wilbur A. Tharp (1904 - 1996)