Sara Teasdale’s “In the End” imagines a place beyond life—“somewhere back of the sun”—where everything we could never say or do, and everything the heart had to give up, waits for us. The speaker feels both longing and comfort in this idea: all that loss will be returned “without pain,” as lightly as girls picking flowers after rain. That image makes the fulfillment sound gentle and natural. But the closing lines turn more uncertain. Even if all those missed things become ours, the speaker doubts that heaven will open or answer when called. The mood is wistful and bittersweet: it yearns for what was lost, yet quietly questions whether getting it back would really bring the joy we expect. Consolation and doubt sit side by side.
In the End — Summary
All that could never be said, All that could never be done, Wait for us at last Somewhere back of the sun;
All the heart broke to forego Shall be ours without pain, We shall take them as lightly as girls Pluck flowers after rain.
And when they are ours in the end Perhaps after all The skies will not open for us Nor heaven be there at our call.