Marilyn Hacker - From Orient PointThe art of living isn't hard to muster:...

From Orient PointThe art of living isn't hard to muster: Enjoy the hour, not what it might portend. When someone makes you promises, don't trust herunless they're in the here and now, and just herwilling largesse free-handed to a friend. The art of living isn't hard to muster: groom the old dog, her coat gets back its luster; take brisk walks so you're hungry at the end. When someone makes you promises, don't trust herto know she can afford what they will cost herto keep until they're kept. Till then, pretendthe art of living isn't hard to muster. Cooking, eating and drinking are a clusterof pleasures. Next time, don't go round the bendwhen someone makes you promises. Don't trust herpast where you'd trust yourself, and don't adjust herwords to mean more to you than she'd intend. The art of living isn't hard to muster. You never had her, so you haven't lost herlike spare house keys. Whatever she opens, when someone makes you promises, don't. Trust yourart; go on living: that's not hard to muster.