Poetry Readers

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1. 
   

   starlitmind
   starlitmind · Sep 1, 2020

   September Disucssion
   
   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

   
   
   Discussion Questions
   
   1. What do you think this poem is about? Do you think it has a deeper meaning to it or is simply what it says?
   
   2. Do you think the speaker actually feels regret about eating the plums? Why or why not?
   
   3. Do you think the line lengths have any effects on the poem?
   
   4. Because of its casual style, some readers believe it was originally written as a note from Williams to his wife. Does this affect the way you interpret this poem?
   
   Feel free to answer as many of these as you want; if there’s anything else you would like to discuss, you are welcome to do that as well!
2. 
   

   Liminality Admin
   Liminality · Sep 2, 2020

   1. What do you think this poem is about? Do you think it has a deeper meaning to it or is simply what it says?
   - Since it's William Carlos Williams, I kind of favour reading it at face value. That the title is "This is just to say" also seems to downplay the importance of the subject, as if the speaker is encouraging us to read it literally.
   - Still, its literal meaning still creates a kind of enjoyment for me. It's so simple, so without really saying so in the text, it acts as a sort of meta celebration of the simple things in life, if that makes sense.
   
   2. Do you think the speaker actually feels regret about eating the plums? Why or why not?
   - I do think the speaker feels apologetic that they ate the plums, however they do not seem to regret the action itself. This seems to be because of the delight it brought them. The capitalised F in "Forgive me" emphasises the sense of apology, but immediately after that the speaker reminisces about how nice the plums were to eat. They think it was worth it, so to speak.
   
   3. Do you think the line lengths have any effects on the poem?
   -The short line lengths create a sense of halting speech for me, making the speaker seem embarrassed that they ate the plums. Maybe this could support the feel of apology that I get from the words.
   -The enjambments could also help create anti-climax with each line. "I have eaten" comes across as overly formal (as compared to saying I've eaten or I ate), maybe even a bit dramatic when I see that the next line says "the plums", so the placing of line breaks makes the overall mood of the poem seem amusing to me.
   
   4. Because of its casual style, some readers believe it was originally written as a note from Williams to his wife. Does this affect the way you interpret this poem?
   -The idea of this being a note to his wife is part of the reason I interpret this poem so literally. I do think that the title strongly suggests this theory, and it makes the poem feel much more like an exploration into mundane life and mundane emotions.
   
   I think my interpretation overall is strongly influenced by previously reading "The Red Wheelbarrow", also by William Carlos Williams. I love the idea of poets using poetry in their day-to-day life and celebrating that life this way. As Williams says, "So much depends" upon a red wheelbarrow (I quote from memory here, so probably paraphrasing a bit haha).
   
   Anyway, thanks for organising this, @starlitmind, and great choice of poem! Eager to hear what everyone else thinks.
3. 
   

   Hijinks Admin
   Hijinks · Sep 5, 2020

   1. What do you think this poem is about? Do you think it has a deeper meaning to it or is simply what it says?
   
   I'm inclined to agree with @Liminality that this poem is pretty literal and can be read at face value. I feel like it's lacking any obvious figurative language that would hint at a second meaning, and the entire tone of the poem seems to be quite straightforward. In fact to me the poem is more about the tone and mentality of the author than the actual plums, if that makes sense - more about the playful apology than what's actually being apologized about.
   
   
   2. Do you think the speaker actually feels regret about eating the plums? Why or why not?
   
   Honestly, I don't think they feel any regret whatsoever. To me the poem feels like a teasing apology between two people who know each other very well - especially in the final stanza when the narrator says "they were so delicious // so sweet // and so cold" it seems almost like a retraction of all of the previous apology, and like they're lightly taunting the person being addressed to get annoyed or frustrated with them.
   
   
   3. Do you think the line lengths have any effects on the poem?
   
   Definitely! Adding to what I said for point #2 , I think it contributes to the playful and informal tone. And like Liminality said, it has a big effect on the flow, making it much more stop-and-start.
   
   
   4. Because of its casual style, some readers believe it was originally written as a note from Williams to his wife. Does this affect the way you interpret this poem?
   
   That's so neat if it was just a little note to his wife! I don't think that changes my interpretation much; it definitely explains why it feels like an informal conversation between two people, if that's the case.
   
   
   ---
   The only other thing I noticed & wanted to mention as I was reading the poem is punctuation (or lack of) - I think it works well to match the stop-start flow and the informal tone of the piece. It almost feels like he just jotted this down quickly? Which would make sense if it was a note to his wife!
   
   
   This is such a fun little poem ~ thanks for organizing this @starlitmind! <3
4. 
   

   alliyah Admin
   alliyah · Sep 20, 2020

   AHH RevMo has kept me away and I refuse to believe it's already 2/3 through September.
   
   I'm going to go through the discussion questions on my own first, then read what y'all wrote.
   
   1. I think the poem is supposed to portray casual intimacy. Like can you imagine being so close to someone that you think to write them a note like this? It's the ordinary sort of mutual generosity and openness (ie. admitting fault, but being open about the pleasure of enjoying the fruit) that is only possible with close friends, family or partners. It reminds me of a note my mom might throw in my lunchbox, or a text my sister might send me. It's about connection for the sake of connection ~ that can be about anything at all even something as insignificant as a stolen plum can become meaningful within that context.
   
   So I guess I interpreted the poem literally, but I think what we're supposed to take from the interactions is "ah, what a cute little note to leave". I don't know, it's openness makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Moving on~
   
   2. No! I don't think they regret it, I think they last part where it says "forgive me" felt more like sort of rubbing it in, but in a loving sort of teasing way.
   
   3. To me the short lines make me read it slower and imagine the person kind of slowly turning over the admission that they'd eaten the plums. Also kind of reminds me of a "sticky-note" message where space is limited so your line breaks might become naturally more stilted. There is something about white-space that makes you think about words longer - if this was just written as
   
   

   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.

   
   I think it'd be half as poetic. So in this case the white-space elevated the casual note.
   
   4. Awe, I sure hope it was! I think even if it wasn't originally a note to his wife that it must have been inspired by some sort of close relationship, or informed by just a feeling of mutual close-ness. To me having that note makes sense and makes me adore the poem more, but I think the poem still makes sense without the note.
   
   ~~~
   I like @Liminality's note on the poem maybe being a celebration of the ordinary ~ and I think that's a very valid reading, it does kind of remind me of found-poetry where someone observes poetry in like a a sign / advertisement / traffic sign or something else originally not-intended as poetic, but nonetheless poetic. I also agree that this has a lot of Red Wheelbarrow Vibes, and unfortunately these are the only poems by WCW that I can think of off the top of my head, so I feel like I need to go search and read some more. Are his writings always so ... ordinary?
   
   Ha I like @whatchamacallit's take that maybe the poet is taunting with the "apology" and I think I agree that it definitely comes across with a bit of a sweet teasing tone to me.
   
   Thanks for organizing @starlitmind!
5. 
   

   Starve
   Starve · Sep 30, 2020

   hihi dropping in, in the nick of time again! Will write without reading others' answers first then add any replies at the end.
   
   
   Discussion Questions
   
   1. What do you think this poem is about? Do you think it has a deeper meaning to it or is simply what it says? The poem is about eating some nice, sweet, cold plums. There is an element of mischievous delight in the act especially with the fact that the first line can be read continuously on from the title, and I assume the poet is gleefully offending someone close to them. Deeper meaning? I wouldn't look for it unless it was signalled in the title or the text, and in my opinion that signal is absent here
   
   2. Do you think the speaker actually feels regret about eating the plums? Why or why not?
   No, I don't think they are actually feeling serious regret. As I said, they seem to be quite enjoying themselves, and I am as a reader quite enjoying the situation.
   
   3. Do you think the line lengths have any effects on the poem?
   They do, yes, but they were not overt. It added to the "hey I'm sorry I ate your plums (not really)" tone of the poem. How? it shows to me a playful hesitancy naturally induced by the enjambment which might not have happened if the lines were longer, might have seemed more matter-of-fact and "what are you going to do about it?" that way. (Apologies for my reduced vocabulary but I haven't written anything in quite a while)
   
   4. Because of its casual style, some readers believe it was originally written as a note from Williams to his wife. Does this affect the way you interpret this poem? Not specially no, since I already assumed something like that before reading this question and the knowledge it proffered.
   
   Feel free to answer as many of these as you want; if there’s anything else you would like to discuss, you are welcome to do that as well!
   
   As much as everybody likes heavy metaphors and vivid imagery, poems like this have their own space as well. If you can informally weave poetry in your life that's a plus, and this might inspire that sort of behaviour. Based on what liminality has said I should look into more of his work. Nice pick @starlitmind !
   
   replies -
   nice to see @Liminality word almost exactly what I said, just much more eloquently. Now that I read what @alliyah said, I have to say that enjambment does introduce more of a poetic feel to it, unlike the usual enjambment abuse seen these days especially in "insta poetry". Probably because this is a fun piece instead of being too self-important?
   I see that all of the readers concur on most of the answers, @whatchamacallit 's point about not being apologetic at all was a bit not quite 100% agreed upon but it is quite a viable meaning. If the poem is apologetic it is mostly in letter and very less if at all, in spirit.
6. 
   

   momonster
   momonster · Sep 30, 2020

   Sneaking in here on the last day of September!
   
   1. What do you think this poem is about? Do you think it has a deeper meaning to it or is simply what it says?
   I think it is simply an apology, but maybe not a sincere one.
   
   2. Do you think the speaker actually feels regret about eating the plums? Why or why not?
   I don't think he regrets it. He only asks for forgiveness once. If he really wanted the person reading it to to forgive him, he would have said, "Forgive me" more often.
   
   3. Do you think the line lengths have any effects on the poem?
   No.
   
   4. Because of its casual style, some readers believe it was originally written as a note from Williams to his wife. Does this affect the way you interpret this poem?
   A bit, but in a good way. It shows the sweet relationship he and his wife had.
   
   There. Short and simple, like this poem.

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