To Elizabeth Bishop

My Art 

Losing is the art of unrequited control

Or never having had it at all

Losing is the art of never being whole

Losing is never having had control 

To keep what it is you love at all

Losing is the loss of all virtues to extol

i’ve lost continents yes but i’ve lost my voice and my mouth too

no need for a house, not one two or three or more

i’d live on the street if i were not a what but rather a who

Losing is wanting for nothing but control

Over the self, and nothing else at all

Losing is accepting only a part in place of the whole

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