Doors, Shut and Open

by andrea at a garden of nna mmoy
Posted on July 18, 2007

One Art
by 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.

Too true.

Toys, for instance. The baby carrot hasn't been seen since April, and the baby bunny is getting hungry. The little doll girl's skirt. The green shovel. All will be uncovered no doubt when we pack up the house.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

The hours badly spent are accumulating--mostly on the computer, writing emails when I have a million other things to do.

Or books. Magazine subscription forms. Email addresses. Telephone numbers. Deadlines and promises. Minor losses, slipping away; putting things down, forgetting to pick them up again. Apologies piling up in summer snowdrifts. "Sorry, sorry; overwhelmed, busy, forgetful, stressed. I forgot." Losing peace and losing sleep. Read more...