The (almost really) Complete Works of Lewis Carroll

My First heads all atrocity heartrending

Source: sent to Alice Maud Kitchin, February 24, 1880

My First heads all atrocity heartrending:
My Next to finish it is ever tending:
My Third in Town its merry life is spending:
My Fourth is the beginning of an ending.

My Whole is one of those perplexing misses,
Where looks of Youth encourage friendly kisses,
And yet where Age is sober fact, & this is
Destruction to such transitory blisses!