This is just to say...

Many thanks to our guest blogger Kate and her class for sharing these with us! Can you work out who the speaker in each poem is addressing? Let us know your guesses in the comments box!

Have you ever read a poem in English? Have you ever written one?  My IGE class did both of these things this week!  We read ‘This is Just to Say’ by William Carlos Williams (1883-1963), which is like a note to say ‘sorry’:

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

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

Who do you think ‘you’ and ‘I’ are in the poem? Is it a husband writing to his wife, like this?  Or is it a wife writing to her husband? One person in my class thought they might be flatmates. The great thing about poetry is that it’s up to you and there’s no right or wrong answer.

We wrote our own poems, based on William Carlos Williams’s. Here’s a selection. Who do you think ‘you’ and ‘I’ are in each poem?  

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

You got inside my world

Immediately

I fell in love with you

I can only see you in the mirror

I can only make a few conversations

But I fell in love with you

I know you will leave me

a few minutes later

The only thing I do for you is

give you the right directions

Goodbye my lover

Thank you for your tip.

(David, South Korea)

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I understand that you have a lot of things to do.

Because out of this room, there are many things that attract you.

I understand you.

Because I was what you are.

But,

Please sit down in this room on time.

Please do not touch your mobile.

Please do your homework every day.

(Anonymous)

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

Oh Klaus, why you’re Klaus.

When I’m down you always stare at me.

When I’m happy you always wave your tail.

Do you know how much I love you?

I don’t want to lose you forever.

I can’t live without you.

Take it seriously, I love you.

(Sayuri, Japan)

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I have ordered a lot

In your serving area

When it is probably a demanding

And annoying time

Forgive me

I couldn’t leave anything there

Because I am a poor student

(Anonymous)

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I gave you

my hands

my head

my heart

but everything

you gave me

has no

end

(Anonymous)

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

Thank you for the wonderful time

I spent with you

I’ll never forget it.

Now forgive me.

I have to leave you.

(Julia, Russia)

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I know

that you can’t understand

You think

that I am annoying

and

I am annoyed

Just

I’m trying to say

But,

I believe in you

Don’t forget

I’ll be always

At your side

(Anonymous)

By Kate and her class

Glossary

based on  (phr v.) - The film Titanic is based on a true story (= it uses and develops facts and ideas from the true story)

A plum (n.) - a type of fruit (see picture)

flatmates (pl n.) ( a flatmate sg n) - friends who share a house or flat (but are not boyfriend and girlfriend)

It’s up to you (exp.) - it’s your decision / choice

anonymous (adj.) - made or done by somebody whose name is not known or made public