the art of losing isn't hard to master

hanging on to that which
no longer exists
an imaginary pain
a desperate, useless grasp
vanishes into thin air

"old habits die hard"
they say.

first one needs to let go
of the small things
in order to reinvent the self -
then dare a little more
each day
each day go beyond and further
in unknown territory

and then be ready for
quicksands, storms, revolted seas
and the little earthquakes

and finally, after all the letting go,
one can start embrancing:
"for occupation -- this --
the spreading wide my narrow hands
to gather paradise"