One Art

Sample Writing Essay

Should we not be upset when we lose valuable things even if it's a loved one? Elizabeth Bishop, The author of "One Art" encourages the readers to master "the art of loosing". Throughout her experiences she has learned to accept that everything is just meant to be lost and we should all be prepared for loosing. She's trying to gives us instructions on how to let go the things we have no control of and to convince herself and us that by losing something every day we'll master the art of loosing.

Loosing or to lose is something that we are faced with daily. "So many things seem filled with the intent to be lost" Whether it's "door keys" or "the hour badly spent" are all losses. I myself have lost many material things, places, and loved ones. When I lose something my way of dealing with the lost is different every time. The feeling of loosing material things doesn't even compare to the tragic of losing a loved one.

Losing material things should not be a disaster, yet somehow they are. The things we buy that are material have a function but they are not what define us. People these days are involved into a commercial world and forget that loosing material things will not take away the ability to be whom they are. Material things are important but can almost all the time be replaced. If I had to lose all my material things, I would be glad for the loss if it left my life as it is and who I am within my life. Loosing material things "isn't hard to master".

Elizabeth mentions she lost cities, realms, rivers, and a continent; and although is a tremendous loss, it is not a disaster. I can identify myself with her because coming to USA as an immigrant I had to leave behind the country I was born in, they city that I was raised in, and most of the loved ones that I grew up with; and although it was tough and really sad leaving behind all I knew (at the time) I was able to over passed that and continue my life here. Even though I lost these I still have the memories, and no one can take this away from me. "Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, and the things you never want to lose." -- from the TV show The Wonder Years"

In this poem the author is trying to convince herself and the readers that losing a loved one should not be a big deal by justifying all of her losses, but the reality is that the loss of a loved one is a lot harder to cope with than the loss of various objects or even a continent. I lost my cousin in a car accident couple of months ago and it was the most difficult and tragic situation I've ever have to deal with. It has been very hard to cope with this situation. He was a young, happy, generous guy that had a great future ahead of him; he left this earth too soon. It is still very un-real at times,