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 you 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 houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.
I lost 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.
This poem is a villanelle, as clearly shown by the 5 tercets and the last 4 line stanza. Line 1 "the art of losing isn't hard to master" repeats entirely at lines 6 and 12, although the line is slightly changed at line 18. A variation of line 3 "to be lost that their loss is no disaster" repeats at lines 9, 15, and 19. I think this poem is about how losing things is easy, and how we lose little things everyday, and don't even realize it. The poet gradually goes from talking about losing keys to losing continents, showing that it's easy for the little things we lose to add up to huge parts of our lives by the end. There are several poetic devices used in this poem apart from the repetition of lines 1 and 3. For example, the words "I lost two cities, lovely ones" are a form of hyberbole and figurative language while "some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent" is a form of imagery, as it allows the reader to picture the places she might have owned. This poem fits into my theme because it showcases the nature of loss.
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farah!
ReplyDeletewhat a pretty poem.
it flowed really well, while still keeping the reader guessing a little bit as to what they were talking about exactly.
What a tricky way you made it fit perfectly into your topic =]
I really like this poem and it really portrays the idea of lose well. I think that you did a great job analyzing this poem and I think that you nailed the meaning of this poem perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is something that I can relate perfectly to! Just today, for example, I spent about half an hour looking for a t-shirt that I had received on Friday and had to wear on Monday! I enjoyed how this poem could be so accurate and feel so joking at the same time. You did some great analysis on the some of the poetic devices used! I find it very difficult to see more subtler things such as hyperboles. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteI love this poem! If you ever see the movie In Her Shoes, listen for it. I thought your analysis was really well written, and it's great that you found an unusual kind of poem. I hadn't heard of the villanelle before this assignment. I feel like the author is almost trivializing the idea of loss, maybe because she lost something (or someone...) really important to her. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI felt this poem conveyed the overwhelming feeling of loss perfectly, and your analysis helped highlight some of the stunning literary devices. This is a perfect description harnessing the nature of loss!
ReplyDeleteI really like this poem, Farah! Especially since it's not obvious that it's a villanelle, in the way that the repeated lines aren't "in your face" and flow very naturally with the poem. I also really like the topic of this poem; it's very original, kind of sad actually but somewhat humourous at the same time. I'm sure this poem is something everyone can relate to. Also, I think that the author is trying to bury a huge loss deep within her by talking lightly and almost joking about the idea of loss.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice!
This is a beautiful poem, I can tell you looked into poems based around your theme carefully and from your explication it is clear that you felt a strong connection to it. The quote "The art of losing isn't hard to master" was my facebook status for a long time! Haha I'm so glad you chose this poem it has some really lovely ideas in it. Great work!
ReplyDeleteNatalie
Wow, I didn't even notice that it was a villanelle until you said so. I agree with Michelle, the repeated lines aren't in your face at all. Bishop draws you in so much that you don't even notice the structure anymore.
ReplyDeleteI think it fits really well into your theme, not only because it showcases the "nature" of losing things, but also because losing things is part of human nature!
I enjoyed how well the poem flowed. The rhyme scheme plays a big part in doing this, and like larissa, i too did not know it was a villanelle until i read your explication; honestly i didnt even know what is was until now, so i learnt something here. This poem perfectly conveys the message of losing, and is serious but at the same time light. Your explanataion was exactly what i thought, and you captured the poem perfectly in it, well done.
ReplyDelete