“This Is Just To Say”
By 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
This is Just To Say…
Nah, it’s cool. I’ll just take them home tonight. It’ll be fine. Who’s going to just eat someone else’s plums without asking, right?
Did I say “very soon”? I meant “now.” Now would be better.
And I love you, too… can I have another hamburger?
Oh, hey, is this your house? Crazy.
The Byronic Man 
April 17, 2012 at 5:01 am
How odd. “I’m pregnant so you should just roll with it” were the exact words I told my husband as well.
Your line about the dog “and I love them” sent me over the edge!
April 17, 2012 at 6:26 am
“You should just roll with it” perhaps should be in the “Expectant Father” books.
April 17, 2012 at 5:03 am
You give new meaning to the art of William Carlos Williams.
April 17, 2012 at 6:27 am
Somebody had to! I like to think he wrote it with me in mind.
April 17, 2012 at 5:09 am
Omigosh. Just might have to use this exercise with college students when trying to teach parody. I think they could do this. Fantastic!
April 17, 2012 at 5:40 am
Yesss. And can we see the results?!
April 17, 2012 at 6:27 am
It’s a great exercise for writing students. Also, anything that forces The Byronic Man into the classroom I support.
April 17, 2012 at 7:45 am
Great idea, Renee! It’s a Plum Parody Poetry Circle that begins, snarks around, and ends up back where it started. Geez, if we did fun stuff like that when I was in school, I probably wouldn’t have dropped out in 3rd grade.
Very clever, Mr. Man.
April 17, 2012 at 8:30 am
(Don’t tell, but this parody idea might be the Question of the Week this Sunday. Start your poetry motors!)
April 17, 2012 at 5:28 am
Very clever and enjoyable! I love to start the day with a chuckle.
April 17, 2012 at 8:34 am
That’s what I’m here for! (hopefully)
April 17, 2012 at 5:41 am
I kind of already liked this poem. Now I LOVE it. And I’m also angry at just the thought of someone eating my expensive cookies [that I don’t have].
April 17, 2012 at 6:29 am
Williams is one of those poets people just HATE sometimes. They use him as examples of how “you can write anything and call it poetry,” but I agree – there’s a beautiful simplicity to his poetry. It’s almost like Chinese poetry or haiku. He’s not as funny as me, though.
April 17, 2012 at 6:35 am
Definitely not as funny as you.
April 17, 2012 at 6:03 am
Absolutely love!!
April 17, 2012 at 6:17 am
I’m with the dog – ” hamburgers are really good and i love them” !
April 17, 2012 at 6:30 am
He tends to be right about a lot of things – when you should nap, the therapeutic benefits of belly rubs, hamburgers…
April 17, 2012 at 6:46 am
You are lot more creative with your plums than Williams. I bet you could really go far with a six-pack of beer.
April 17, 2012 at 8:31 am
This is Just To Say…
I drank all your beer.
Sorry, bro.
Thirsty.
Bad day.
April 17, 2012 at 9:53 am
Hahaha! You are really good. I mean reeeeeeaaaalllly good! Here is a virtual 6-pack for your fridge.
April 17, 2012 at 7:36 am
omg you have done a great service by rewriting the poem..this is exactly how it should have been in the first place…..wow
April 17, 2012 at 7:57 am
This, has made my day. Love the one about the hamburger…
April 17, 2012 at 8:33 am
Dogs talking about food = poetry. It’s the lesson of the ages.
April 17, 2012 at 8:13 am
Byronic, you’re a poet, but we didn’t know it.
April 17, 2012 at 8:33 am
Or at least a poetry-wrecker. A poem-heckler.
April 17, 2012 at 8:22 am
This is awesome! It always comes back to plums…
April 17, 2012 at 8:32 am
It’s like the DaVinci code, but with produce! Plums… looks at the recurrence of plums in modern poetry… what does it MEAN?
April 17, 2012 at 8:35 am
After pouring over these scripts, I have reached the conclusion that prunes will rule the world.
April 17, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Mmmm plums.
April 17, 2012 at 10:57 am
This is just to say:
Your writing is
Impressive
to the point
of intimidating
But if I asked you to stop
I would lose
the pleasure
of reading it
So please keep it up
And take this
back-handed compliment
with you
April 17, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Perfect!!!
April 17, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Loved that you said “icebox”. Somethings from childhood just stick with you and that one term brought back happy times. Poem was great, picture commentary is always a joy!
April 17, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Yeah, even after reading through all the comments, I’m still gigglesnorting over the very last one about the blood sugar being low. I’m definitely using this series in my CW class, with your permission.
April 18, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Always liked that poem.