A Sterling World

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.

- Elizabeth Bishop

He said “I am the devil, boy, come with me
And we’ll make many storms”
He offered me the universe
But inside my heart there’s a picture of a girl

Some call love a curse, some call love a thief
But she’s my home
And she’s as much apart for this broken heart, but see
Broken bones always seem to mend

I’ll taste the devil’s tears
Drink from his soul, but I’ll never give up you
I’ll taste the devil’s tears
Drink from his soul, but I’ll never give up you

He said “I am the devil, boy,
Come with me and we’ll break many laws”
He offered me eternal life but inside my heart there’s a picture of a girl

Some call love a curse, some call love a thief
But she’s my home and she
And she’s as much apart for this broken heart, but see
Broken bones always seem to mend

I’ll taste the devil’s tears
Drink from his soul, but I’ll never give up you
I’ll taste the devil’s tears
Drink from his soul, but I’ll never give up you

.  .  .

Angus and Julia Stone