This Is Just To Say
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 — William Carlos Williams
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
If you google "this is just to say spoof", you will find that the above William Carlos Williams poem is often spoofed. One of my favourite spoofs of this poem is Kenneth Koch's:
— Kenneth Koch
1
I chopped down the house that you had been saving to live in next summer.
I am sorry, but it was morning, and I had nothing to do
and its wooden beams were so inviting.
2
We laughed at the hollyhocks together
and then I sprayed them with lye.
Forgive me. I simply do not know what I am doing.
3
I gave away the money that you had been saving to live on for the next ten years.
The man who asked for it was shabby
and the firm March wind on the porch was so juicy and cold.
4
Last evening we went dancing and I broke your leg.
Forgive me. I was clumsy and
I wanted you here in the wards, where I am the doctor!
The Palinode went rogue with it, but he makes me laugh, so here's his go at the concept:
That I set that wild bear loose in your kitchen
That you were tormenting all last week
And which you wanted to sell to the Chinese
Forgive me
It looked so angry
And hungry
And I never liked you that much
Anyway
I found the spoof idea compelling, and so I decided to try my hand at a few:
despite the distasteful amount of cat litter.
Forgive me. I was distracted by Tyra Banks.
I forgot the butter cookies in the oven.
Aprons can be so sexually distracting.
Forgive me. Some things are more important than sweets.
I picked all your daisy petals in the front yard,
but they never delivered the answer I sought.
Forgive me. I once more fell in love without you.
William Carlos Williams' poem is structured into three verses, but it is basically three alexandrine (12-syllable) lines, which makes it an extremely easy form to follow. I've been walking around all morning chattering away at myself in my head in 36-syllable spurts, confessing to minor evils and tossing out meaningless entreaties for forgiveness like a bad three-year-old. You should give it a shot. It's strangely addicting.
because I said so, and you should do what I say.
Forgive me. I'm selfish and want entertainment.
Have at it!
Reader Comments (23)
WCW, you are my all-time favourite poet.
I'm going to have a go at this on my blog sometime this week - what a great idea!
Here's one I wrote to send to my daughter back in 2006 during the spinach/e coli scare. She was away at college.
This Is Just to Say
You have eaten
the spinach
that was in
the icebox
which I
requested you not eat
due
to dire warnings
I will not
forgive you, sweetheart,
if you
get e-coli
I used to teach this poetry workshop to elementary kids. They loved it. I love Ken Koch I met him once over huevos rancheros... He was friends with my friend. I nearly passed out in his awe...
He wrote an amazing book to teach kids poetry- Rose where did you get that red...
amazing stuffs. xoxox
happy poetry month.
I plan on posting some stuff too.
This is just to say
I sleep with the dog whenever you go away, in direct contravention of house rules.
Forgive me, but he is warmer than nuclear fired central heating
And does not snore nearly as loud as you.
I have shot dead
the bird
that was in
the oak tree
and who
was just probably
singing
for morning
Forgive me
it’s song is so much
sweeter
when it’s dead
oh and then I fuck it up with an ill placed apostrophe. Nice.
Good times, Schmutzie.
This is just to say
I saw your
passive aggressive note
on the break room microwave.
In spite, I reheated my spaghetti
without covering it.
The tomato sauce spattered like
angry constellations
and it tasted
so much better.
I have taken your car and
gone south .
for the snow
has not melted and this town
is too cold for me.
Thanks for the
blanket
but I much prefer
your car.
Did you mean to say
when you emailed me
that time,
I should be careful
because you were not
joking,
When you told me you
were shallow? You were
so right.
This is just to say
I have wired
your savings to
a prince in Nigeria
you were probably
saving them for
your retirement
forgive me,
he was so polite
and it was urgent.
This Is Just To Say
I clicked your (old)
comment's link
at Heidi Swanson's
since I wondered what
'the Great Mofo Delurk'
was
I won't apologize
for now I'm
not lurking
Also, I like your link to blog comment guidelines :)
This is just to say, baby
I cursed when you shat on my lap tonight during dinner
Forgive me, but the caramel goo was so warm
I don’t want you to learn to repeat that word much.
Your head smells like me but your neck smells like sour milk
What is that stuff between your wee little fingers?
I’m sorry, but you were once so fresh and so clean.
Lord Honey, you video game playing husband
Get up off your ass and pick up this steamy diaper
Or I’ll have more sins to confess to on the internet.
Oh, this was too good to pass up.
This is Just to Say...
by TeacherMommy
I did not grade
your papers
or quizzes
today
Which you
have been
asking about
the last three weeks
Forgive me
the blogs
were seductive
and many
(oh, and I LOVE Erin's!)
This was so fun I went ahead and assigned it to my students. I'm starting to post some of my favorites (with their permission) over on my blog. Here's the first small batch:
http://diapersanddragons.blogspot.com/2009/04/this-is-just-to-say-student-versions.html
this is just to say
i actually
was never
into you
at all
though i
obviously
made you
think otherwise
forgive me
you looked great
and i was
so lonely
I found this site using [url=http://google.com]google.com[/url] And i want to thank you for your work. You have done really very good site. Great work, great site! Thank you!
Sorry for offtopic
I peed on
the sheets that
were on your bed
and which you
probably wanted to
sleep in tonight
Forgive me
you were in
the bathroom
and I really
had to go.
Every body admits that today's life seems to be not cheap, however different people need money for various issues and not every man gets enough money. Thus to get some credit loans or credit loan would be a proper solution.
This is just to say
I resented your "no indoor pets" policy all of my childhood,
so I snub the 3 cats you got after I moved out.
Forgive me.
I never learned to love dependant creatures,
and it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
This is just to say
Math, we've grown apart
and I want a divorce.
Forgive me.
You've been a coldly reliable career path, but
you're a stranger to humor, and I miss laughing.
Anyways, Language is much better in the sack
compared to numbers, such dull company.
This is just to say
I ate the pizza that you put in the fridge last night
I know you were saving it to eat cold out of the fridge
Forgive but I was so hungry
and I really love the triple cheese.
This is just to say
I scratched my ass
before making your grilled cheese sandwich
and which
you probably really enjoyed
since you were so hungry and
ate it really fast
forgive me
but I simply do not like washing
my hands
the water is so juicy and cold
This is just to say
I snatched your last tampon
While you washed your pjs.
Dorm ad: "My rages
aren't personal". Not so, mine.
Forgive me, I was late for class.
We're in sync now.