Sunday, November 4, 2012

This is Just to Say...

Today, I was writing a poetry lesson for my Freshman Scholars as we are working on poetry this quarter. I decided to have them write a parody of William Carlos Williams's "This is Just to Say" poem. They have to take the first two words from each stanza and create a new poem. I thought I would challenge myself to this task before having my students do it.  Here is Williams's original poem:
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

My rewrite:
This Is Just To Say
I have licked
the frosting
off the cake
for the party

and which
you were probably
waiting
for guests

Forgive me
it was inevitable
so yummy
and so good.
I had written about 2 more but they were snarky so I refrained from posting them. What do you think?  Think you can do better?  I challenge my readers to post their own parody in the comments section and let's see who can create the best rewritten poem!  Ready?  Set!  Write!

2 comments:

Sandi said...

Okay, no one is challenging me for other poems, so here are a couple of others that I created:

This Is Just To Say
I have burned
the photo
that you
sent me

and which
you were probably
frightening
I had kept

Forgive me
it was necessary
so painful
yet so satisfying!

--------------

This Is Just To Say
I have broken
the grid
that powered the NE

and which
you thought
broke because
of system overload

Forgive me
I needed a day off
for relaxation
and rejuvenation.

(In honor of the Northeast blackout of 2003)

Sandi said...

Oh, I thought of another one. I think this is how Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice would respond to Mr. Darcy's proposal of marriage via poetry:

This Is Just To Say

I have little regard
for your
proposal
of marriage

and which
you were probably
thinking
I would accept

Forgive me
but you are
too arrogant
and pompous