The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
So many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their lost is no disaster.
Lose something everyday. Accept the fluster
Of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of loosing isn’t hard to master.
Then practise losing farther, losing faster.
I lost two cities, two rivers, a continent,
I miss them.
But it wasn’t a disaster.
Even losing you, the joking voice,
A gesture I love,
I shan’t have lied.
It’s evident,
The art of losing’s
Not to hard to master.
Though it may look like (write it),
Like disaster.
Elizabeth Bishop