Loose Ends: Corresponding to the opening section of the book (1:2–6) which introduced the characters (the lovers, the daughters of Jerusalem, and the brothers), the closing verses include all of them as speakers. As usual, the focus is on the central woman. This inclusion does not mean, however, that the book ends with all the loose ends neatly tied. The daughters of Jerusalem ask a question that is not clearly answered. The central woman solemnly announces the seriousness of love. The brothers reveal a breathtaking blindness to the fact that their little sister has grown up. The central woman declares her independence. The central man calls for her to speak. She issues an invitation framed as a warning. The book may end, but the relationship that it describes is open-ended. As the Song be…