I have enjoyed several of Gail Carson Levine’s books in the past and was very curious when I saw that this poetry collection was written by her as well. I hope you don’t think I’m ignorant, but I had never heard of false apology poems before picking up this book and while I know the name William Carlos Williams, I had never read “This Is Just To Say,” which this book is inspired by. For those of you that haven’t read it either, here it is:
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
William Carlos Williams (1934)
Levine has written a collection of humorous false apology poems. Some are realistic, some are fantastical, and some are just plain silly. She includes an introduction explaining where she got the idea (William Carlos Williams) and then gives the reader the permission to start writing their own false apology poems. Something I think is very good is she explained that the poems didn’t have to be exactly in Williams’ style. She deviated from the pattern in just about every poem, if not all of them.
Kids will get a kick out of this poetry collection. I know I did. I decided to write my own apology poem. Since William Carlos Williams wrote his to his wife I decided I would write mine to my husband.
This Is Just To Say
I didn’t finish
the laundry
that is piled
up high
I know
you need underwear
also
clothes for work
Forgive me
I was enjoying
some time
reading my book
Karin Perry (2012)
If you want to write you own in the style of William Carlos Williams, here is the pattern:
No punctuation
Only capitalize the first word and Forgive
3 words
2 words
3 words
2 words
2 words
3 words
2 syllables
3 syllables
Forgive me
3 words
2 words
3 words
This first two stanzas explain what you did and the final stanza is the fake apology.
And now, for your listening pleasure, here is Matthew Macfadyen reading This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams. (Matthew Macfadyen is the actor who played Mr. Darcy in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice.
My favorite scene. When he is walking across the field with his coat flapping behind him.
