More poems

William Carlos Williams wrote the following poem:

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

When I was a Capital Area Writing Project Fellow, we were assigned to write our own poems to mimick Williams' poem. Here are two that I wrote (circa 1987)

This Is Just to Say

I have come to replace my

driver's license

that was stolen

along with all my other

identification

that you require.

Forgive me

for only bringing my baby book.

My file cabinet wouldn't fit

in the van.

This Is Just to Say

I have come without

your essays

that were stacked on my kitchen table

and which

you were probably expecting

last week.

Forgive me

I watched "I Love Lucy"

and changed diapers instead.

And then for fun, I had Jay write one of these. I still have the copy in his handwriting. He must have been about 13 when he wrote this.

This Is Just to Say

I ate half

a pound of ham

That was in the fridge.

You are probably

going to lecture

me about responsibility

and I'll have a smart mouth.

I'm sorry

but I was

Hungry

Take it easy

by Jay Norton