Week 6: Rewriting You

You are trying to rewrite him
into the present, into
other people, into
places he does not belong.

You must remember
long nights with gilded notebooks
and spiral ink pens,
looping your name at the
tops of lined pages.

You must remember
all of the poems
you wrote,
holding your finger
in between the pages afterwards
to keep your place.

But know this--
like a bookmark he
sticks out, placed carefully
in a spot best left unkept.
One day, you might return
and want to flip through the memories.
You must remember
that it’s better to forget.

He does not belong here, between
lined paper and a warm embrace, he
does not deserve your words,
you must remember.

With feigned ease,
pluck the bookmark
and allow the pages to
feather shut.

Turn to the beginning;
the first sheet will be blank.
With a steady hand
write your name at the
top with a spiral ink pen,
and breathe deep as you begin
again.