Rewrite the first chapter,
the one in which someone else
starts to tell your story.
Notice how when you erase it,
all the chapters after it
go blank. Fields of blank pages.
Skies of blank pages. Blank minutes,
blank days, blank years. Listen
for what’s left of your story—
nothing. Miss your friends.
Miss your mom. Miss your old house
and your problems. Go back
to chapter one. Rewrite it exactly
as it was written, but keep
the pen in your hand. You want
to be in charge of the story
from here on in.