<!DOCTYPE html>
<style>
.columns {
position: relative;
border: 2px solid black;
height: 300px;
line-height: 20px;
}
.abs1, .abs2 {
position: absolute;
background-color: lightgray;
width: 300px;
}
.abs1 {
height: 50px;
bottom: 0;
}
.abs2 {
left: 50%;
}
</style>
<div class="columns">
<div class="abs1">
This text should be in the first column.<br>
This text should be in the first column.<br>
</div>
<div class="abs2">
This text should be in the second column.<br>
This text should be in the second column.<br>
This text should be in the second column.<br>
This text should be in the second column.<br>
</div>
</div>