53. This Is Just to Say

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“Forgive me / they were delicious / so sweet / and so cold”

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

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Prompt:

Write a variation on “This Is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams. It could be a parody of an apology, or an homage to the everyday messiness that we often convey through to-do lists or passive-aggressive notes left on the kitchen table. Make it short, and make it snappy, and make it sweet.


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Annie Jaffee

Location: New York City
About: I just graduated in May, and I wrote this entry--inspired by William Carlos Williams' "This Is Just to Say"– to a mean roommate I had in college.
Age: 22

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Anonymous

The jar of

cookies is now

empty

 

I know that

the chocolate chip

peanut butter

was your favorite

 

I couldn't help it.

Twenty seconds in the mic,

so warm, so gooey


so rich


Dara Carroll

Location: San Fransisco, CA
About: I love lists and walking on the sunny side of every street.
Age: 32

This is just to say

I have added 

a few items

To your bulletin

To-do list



And perhaps 

You already 

Planned

To do them



Forgive me

I just so delight 

In seeing you

And the doing of things



This is just to say



I have taken

Your sunglasses

That were resting on

Your night stand



And which 

You probably 

Wanted

For your drive



Forgive me

The world is just

So bright 



And so shining


Elliot McIntire

Location: Portland, Oregon
About: I'm a retired geography professor who loves poetry, but never tried to write any.
Age: 79

You had the last 

of the limonella

that was cold

There’s more 

in the cupboard




why don’t you 

ever replace the last one?

I’d like one too, but

there is never one there


Heather Viviano

Location: Seattle, WA
About: I couldn't leave out proper documentation of my husband's epic COVID beard!
Age: 51

My eyes rest upon

That covid beard

Which you grew

For isolation




Do you wish

To look

Like the Lorax

Who speaks for the trees




Could you

Would you

Shave it

Please?

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Jaz Sisante


About: I love to watch movies and tv shows. I love nothing more than someone who also likes (or at least, be fine watching it with me) the show/movie that I love. Also, I could listen to them for hours rant excitedly and passionately about that show or some other shows they love.

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Kelly Matula

Location: Ann Arbor, MI
About: I am a healthcare researcher and writer living with multiple disabilities and chronic illnesses. During The Isolation Journals project, I ended up being hospitalized twice. This was written during the first of these two hospitalizations (which was something like my 29th overall), during which I had a roommate who was much sicker than I was.
Age: 33

I didn't mean

to depress you

with my fate of

getting better

 

and going home,

neither of which

you might

get to do.

 

Forgive me,

they picked

this hospital room

for us both.


Liz Overall

Location: Phoenix, Arizona
About: My entry was inspired by my husband who really wanted some waffles for breakfast on day 53. I am not a waffle person but told him to make them if he really wanted them. I happily ended up indulging, because he went to so much effort.
Age: 62

You’re making

Blueberry waffles

In the

Kitchen 



And they

Require a lot of

Loving work

As they should 



Forgive me

I’m sure they

Will be delicious

But 



I think I’ll pass

I’m Good


Lorelle Murzello

Location: Mumbai, India
About: My name is Lorelle. I am a Teacher-educator, researcher, and writer from Mumbai, India. The Isolation Journals was this little window into my soul and helped me understand the (crazy!) world and my role in it through writing!
Age: 25

This is just to say

More clearly now,

That this is the end

Not sure when it began




The background noise

I know you could hear it to

“Hello, hello”

I heard

“Hello? Hello?”

You said




After a point it was hard 

To move past that….




This is just to say,

The coffee was great




So, umm thanks?


Maddie Annis

Location: Baltimore, MD
About: The inspiration for this poem came from me forgetting about my best friend’s birthday until the day before. I am entering my sophomore year at Williams College, and I miss the mountains very very much.
Age: 19

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Miriam Barr

Location: Indianapolis, IN
About: I live alone and felt an ache each time I left a warm, familial place.
Age: 43

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Sophia Kenna

Location: London, England
About: I often think of my grandfather who passed away a few years back. I felt our relationship wasn't what it should've been, and I could've made more of an effort. This stemmed from that feeling.
Age: 22

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Vicki Lauruhn

Location: North Mankato MN
About: Approaching 70 this summer and January/February in Minnesota have made me extra reflective & creative. The uncertainties & isolation of the COVID tragedy have heightened my expressions. Day 53 made me focus on how my sweet husband and I are spending more time together & how so much togetherness & COVID cautions manifest themselves.
Age: 69

This man I love

My (COVID19) everyday  

Twenty-six years getting old

together


I said it once

I repeated myself

And again—louder this time &

the next


How to confirm I love you

How do I get louder & louder to

repeat & repeat & repeat 

Without surrendering to anger


Wyatt Engelhart

Location: Princeton, NJ
About: What inspired me was a fight with my sister.
Age: 12

This Is Just To Say

I’m so sorry 

that you thought 

I was actually sorry

but it is how 

you believed it.