Hon Quach · 23 March 2000

I like this poem too!

Joseph · 9 September 2001

Could it be that the meaning of the poem has nothing to do with love? Could it be that he is trying to say Forgivness is easier to obtain then getting what you want so either stop taking advantage of peoples willingness to forgive or to make forgivness harder to obtain?

Joseph

Sebastian Esser · 21 September 2001

· Tone: Is he really sorry? Apologetic? Triumphant? Smug? Tactful? Amused? Good humored?

· Is this a real poem? What makes it worthwhile?

Klmcc101 · 4 April 2002

This is not a nice person! He at the plums he KNEW you were saving for breakfast, barely makes a decent apology, and then gloats over the wonderful way they tasted. This guy is not a great guy! Try Kenneth Koch’s poems in tribute to this one…cannot remember the names, but it really makes one understand this work by WCW.

Benita Kape · 6 July 2002

This is an exciting little poem. Doing our own versions of this poem in a workshop recently was a liberating experience for each of us I am sure; or, at least it seemed so to me because everyone laughed in a way which suggested no embarrassment whatsoever.

Re-reading my version I ended up with 5 lines in the final stanza and looking at that it probably needed to be the words of the first line that needed to be dropped. Yes, that is; the words Forgive me. But then I wish it was so simple a thing as a bowl of plums about which I chose to write.

Sure it was a terrible thing the poet did. But there is a place in the world for such expressions; and for the lame apology followed by the pathetic excuse. Put in this way it is little more than a redeemable prank, especially if his flatmate/partner/whoever can wheedle a sumptuous dinner in return.

That’s why it works. It is such a universal picture - and so easily remembered.

Helen

Anthony Morgan · 8 April 2003

I beleive the poem symbolizes the first sin of man in the garden. The plum realy is a fruit, as in the fruit of my loins, the sound of the “s” is stressed in the poem bringing to mind the snake representing the devil. Forgive me brings to mind a mistake was made, or to simplify Adam made the mistake by eating the apple from the restricted tree. Adam was the fruit of gods loins, the snake came “s”, Adam ate the apple forgive me.

Sue Charles · 19 April 2003

I have to go to a wedding shower today with a kitchen theme and I’m supposed to bring a recipe or poem or reading. I’m bringing this poem. I don’t know if it really is about love or fruit but I like it.

Don José · 28 May 2003

I read this as being a bit simpler more so than deep. My family and I leave notes for each other all the time. I immediately thought of this as being a note, perhaps from husband to wife, being left as the husband leaves for work. If the title is prefixed to the first line, and the lines not broken, it’s just a simple little note.

And I thought it so sweet. I have had family members eat my food – food I was looking forward to eating, only to go for it and find out it’s gone, to my chagrin and surprise. Anger then sets in, and confrontation ensues. How much nicer it would be! if the culprit left a simple note alerting me to the indulgence, instead of absconding. Moreover, I wouldn’t mind it if I knew that the person enjoyed eating it. Perhaps then, on this level, it is about love.

Interestingly, I came upon this poem in an anthology recently, and was looking to see if it had been run here yet. It was alongside “January Morning,” another WCW piece I like. Perhaps I’ll submit that in a bit.

DJ

Saulo Domingues Marinho · 20 August 2003

I guess it doesn’t matter what the author meant. There are many possibilities but each one has one’s opinion. I think the REAL question here is: Why can this little note be considered a poem? In my opinion, his word selection is what creates the poetic effect. The apparent simplicity calls our attention at first. Then, we start to image the situation itself. It seems so soft and sweet, as a plum is. The irony is revealed with such words as these: “ice-box”, “cold” and “they were delicious” right after “Forgive me”. The poem tells a story and means the opposite, and it has fake and true tips, these are negative ones and those positive ones.

Carolyn McGrath · 26 September 2003

I like the discussion this poem has generated and the diversity of responses are what makes this “note” a poem (and a successful one at that). I remember being given this to read at school and feeling shock that this was a poem a teacher thought we should study! It was exciting that it was so accessible and everyone then felt free to comment on it too and to speculate on the relationship between the I and the you. Was the thief forgiven? We would never know, but we all searched for clues and decided (in our teenage hormonal state) that it was a sexy poem - the sensuality of the apology/justification expressing a confidence that “you” must understand the impossibility of “I” ever resisting such temptation - by putting them in the icebox, you have only yourself to blame!

Carolyn

Leniad · 23 June 2004

It’s a little known fact that WCW actually wrote two more verses to this poem, which i’ve reproduced below in their entirety:

I am sorry but
if you really
wanted them

you would have put
your name
on them.

Martin Mak · 1 July 2004

This poem is simply direct and explicit. I have not yet seen a poem in which possess the simplistic qualities of this poem. Moreover, the way in which the thoughts and emotions were conveyed were expressed in a very plain manner. In addition, I also like the way in which the verses are interrelated, one stanza is connected to the next which makes it more interesting to read.

Martin Mak

Eric Savlin · 19 August 2004

See, that’s what makes a poet different: “tart” is all wrong, tart wouldn’t fit. If he used “tart” we would have an acidic taste in our mouths, instead of cool purple plums. And a little moment would have gotten more complicated than necessary, more complicated than we desire, because it’s more complicated than we want already. I like the plum.

Erik Barnes · 18 September 2004

Could it be that everyone who likes this poem, and indeed, this poet, reads into it and him what they hope to find? Could it be that this poem is absolute crap, devoid of any real meaning we don’t give it? I don’t know for sure, but it sure seems so to me.

Jennifer WIlliams · 18 February 2005

I myself love poetry and write some myself I am only 14 year old but I think the poems could rhyme. rhyming helps the rhythm go smoother and defines it more. I didn’t check if you wrote with a number pattern I’ve actually tried going something like, 7 8 7 8 7 8 7 8 it just didn’t have a good Rythem even when rhyming! But if you change it like to a certain type, I’m always bad with the names, like… well 4453 or something like that it could be really good. If your writing funny poetry like some of these its also good to rhyme it almost makes it more cheerful and not like your just trying to draw a picture in someone’s mind, like done in those with the Rose and what not. I don’t know. There good Ideas I like how you’ve thought of them! I always have a struggle with topic, I’m religious so usually I find myself writing on God and nothing else, I hoped by reading poetry it would help broaden my mind, thanks, hope I helped! Jenn

Del & Debbie Rempel · 18 November 2005

i think that adding rhyming to this poem would ruin its sensibility and seeming straightforward quality. the author obviously wanted it to sound like a note. to me it seemed to be a playful guesture between two people who were very close be they married or room-mates it doesnt really matter, in the last stanza you can almost see the joking smile on the face of the author as he thinks of the person reading it. and the ability to paint a picture with words without throwing them into a childlike sing songy manner is an ability which just shows the excellence of the writer. I love this poem because of its ability to be straightforward, not necessarily funny but smile-inducing nonetheless.

Josef N. Callaway

Basralian Joseph · 12 November 2006

My poem is not as good, and it is more clearly about love & comfort rather than mystery, but here it is:

Mid-afternoon Autumn

I see you used a banana
since there are four or three of them now,
yellow and brown-spotted,
softening on our countertop.

It must have made it into your oatmeal
which smelled sweet
and resembled custard.

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Adam Wakeling · 24 February 2007

I believe that the poem certainly represents the fall of man, but consequently the fall of the speaker - Williams. His intellectual superiority was very concious in his mind and the poem represents Williams temptation to write self elevating poetry that tells the word of his intelligence - of which he succumbs to.

jim · 14 May 2007

This is Just to say that this alleged poem barely qualifies as a competent post it note. What is wrong with you people? A flood of fools in gowns say it’s a poem and millions fall for it. The man chanced his arm - wondered just how far the sheepheads would go - and must have been stunned by the result. It is composed of 2 banal sentences relined. Wake up folks the academic world is full of this drivel. jim

Ps If Williams had issued a relined version of this comment in response to the literary world’s hailing of this so-called poem, it would have been hailed as a work of genius, comparable with Dante or Eliot that’s how far off the tracks they’ve strayed. Come on folks, believe in yourselves. Trust your minds. It is exactly what it looks and sounds like: a note of no consequence!

Ron & Christine Burkett · 29 October 2007

wow that was stupid that is the worst poem i have ever read!!!

Lisa Neidt · 1 January 2008

I read this poem in a required high school course. I didn’t get it. So what? The guy ate some plums. I read this poem as an undergraduate studying English literature. I sure thought I got it. The symbols. The deep, understated, message. I read the poem as a grad student studying writing. Didn’t get it; just wanted to write it. Now. Ten years since my grad school envy. My husband comes downstairs from his shower and reaches into the microwave for the spicy black tea he left to brew. Sorry, I explain, I drank the tea. God was it good. I’m not sure I “get” what William Carlos Williams wanted to say in his poem, but I know what I got from it. Sometimes it just tastes better when taken from the cache of a loved one. Tod upstairs in his own steamy shower and I’m downstairs curled around his mug of warm spicy morning tea. And he’ll call me a jerk for drinking his tea but he’ll love me and forgive me. And he did call me a jerk and I remembered W.C. Williams and his plums and I laughed.

Trudy Nye · 7 January 2008

Please..when I first read this “poem” almost 40 years ago, it enraged me..and prompted me to write the following response:

This is Just to Say

Although

William Carlos Williams

May spatter

Random thoughts

Across a page,

That is

NOT

A poem.

For the record, I am similarly unimpressed by The Red Wheelbarrow. The undue applause this poem and that have received seems to me to be a case of pseudo-literati trying to be ever so clever in showing off their interpretive abilities, or perhaps in a state of altered consciousness?

John · 22 April 2008

One commenter wrote: “This poem is simply direct and explicit.” Is it?
Some food for thought:
- Who is the writer/the voice of this poem?
- What is the relationship between the two people?
- When did he eat the plums?
- How many plums were there?

And of course, try to find textual support for your position. I think the number of plums is implicitly stated in a fairly clever manner. Great poem.

jOhn

Daniel Deemer · 1 May 2008

Interpretation by Daniel Deemer:

As one first glances at William Carlos Williams’s poem This Is Just to Say the reader immediately notices that the poem is short and simple in structure. This simple structure reflects Williams’s style of writing, as his poems were often inspired by simple everyday experiences. The structure and poetic elements Williams chooses to use speak to his theme that often times people do things that are wrong and hurt others, but because of the rewards they receive, they do no regret what they did, and are not truly sorry. With only three stanzas’ of four lines each, William’s poem uses very simple diction and makes absolutely no use of punctuation. It seems probable that Williams intentionally ignored the punctuation rules of the English language to help create a certain feel. Williams wrote the poem as a quick apology note, and the lack of punctuation reinforces the reader’s interpretation that the poem was written quickly. As if leaving a note for a roommate or family member, there are few who bother with proper punctuation in such a situation. Because the poem is so short, lacks punctuation, or any other real poetic devices, it is easy to imagine Williams writing the poem quickly on a scrap piece of paper and leaving it on the counter. Williams only uses capitalization twice in his poem, first in line one he capitalizes “I” and in line nine the word “Forgive” is capitalized. Williams no doubt did this to add a hint of emphasis. By capitalizing the “I” in line one he is accepting responsibility and openly admitting that it was he who ate the plums. The capital “I” helps emphasize the admittance the wrongful act in the first stanza. In the second stanza Williams acknowledges that the plums were not for him, but rather someone ealse was saving them. The fact that there is no capitalization used in this stanza helps the reader understand that Williams did not take this into consideration as he ate the plums. In the ninth line and the beginning of the third and final stanza, Williams capitalizes the “Forgive”, this is done to emphasize what it is exactly that Williams’s intentions are in writing the poem, and that is to gain forgiveness. Lines ten through twelve however utilize some fairly simple sensory imagery to describe his experience as he ate the plums. It is these lines that point to Williams true tone and feelings regarding eating someone else’s plums. In the last stanza the twentieth century poet only uses two words to imply that he is sorry, and uses eight words of sensory imagery to describe how much he enjoyed eating the plums. Williams using two words in the entire poem, small as it is, shows that the poem is not a genuine apology. Describing the snack as “delicious, so sweet, and so cold” leaves the reader with a positive impression of the experience. Williams created this positive image at the end of his poem to leave the reader pleased. Much like the way he perhaps felt after he had eaten the plums. This implies that although Williams knew it was wrong of him to take the plums, he does not regret the decision, and therefore is not truly sorry. Had the poet constructed the poem in reverse order, by describing the enjoyable plums in the first stanza, then using the second and third stanzas to acknowledge that is was wrong and apologize would have left the reader with perhaps a guilty feeling, which would indicate true sorrow. The structure that Williams chose to use shows his true feelings and intentions in writing the poem, as the order of the stanzas and what they mean, effect what the reader feels.

-Daniel Deemer