One Art

One Art

Elizabeth Bishop

The art of losing isn't hard to master;

so many things seem filled with the intent

to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster

of lost door keys the hour badly spent.

The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther losing faster:

places and names and where it was your meant

to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last or

next-to-last of three loved housed went.

The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lose two cities lovely ones. And vaster

some realms I owned 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 too hard to master

though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.