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The art of losing is easily mastered;

So many things seem determined to go astray
that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the anguish
of lost keys, of hours wasted in vain.

The art of losing is easily mastered.

Then train yourself to lose further, to lose faster:
places and names, the places you thought you would travel to.
None of these losses will cause disaster.

I lost my grandfather's watch.  And look, gone
the last or the second to last of my three beloved homes.

The art of losing is easily mastered.

I lost my village, a beautiful one. And even more:
some kingdoms I had, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it was no disaster.

Even in losing you (the joking voice, the gesture
that I loved) I will not have lied.  There is no doubt that the art of losing is easily mastered,
*even if it seems a disaster*.

*Elizabeth Bishop*