This is Just to Say

William Carlos Williams

(1883-1963)

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

As I was considering this poem, I went on a home tour in the historic Pullman area on Chicago’s far Southeast side. I saw this poem written on a kitchen wall in one of the homes – written in large, red, cursive letters. Okay, I thought, that’s a sign, and I decided to include the poem in this collection. Later that same day I looked it up on Google, hit “images,” and saw that a young girl had the poem tattooed on her side! Google “This is just to say tattoo.” As it turns out, the poem has inspired many responses, the most prominent of which is from Erica Lynn Gambino - you can see her response here. There are many others. To give a taste of what I am referring to, consider this spinoff – “I have slept with your spouse / Forgive me / There was no chocolate in the house.”

As for the poem itself, I was drawn by the flat, matter-of-fact tone that includes a not-very-convincing request for forgiveness. I don’t assign great meaning to any of it, nor do I see anything symbolic about the plums. It is a moment in time, a snapshot of a mundane event. What makes it interesting is the existence of a relationship. The culprit is compelled to leave a confessional note and an explanation. What happens next? Is it ignored? Is all forgiven? Is there a retaliatory icebox theft somewhere in the future?