This Is Just To Say

There’s a famous William Carlos Williams poem about plums and such. If you’ve been around poetry for a minute, you could probably recite it. This American Life recently aired a segment about it, where the commentator suggested that every poet everywhere writes a poem based on or inspired by “This Is Just To Say.” I guess it’s about time I tried it. Today’s drafts are inspired by this poem.

I.

I have silenced your text notifications

which you were constantly checking

or thinking about.

Forgive me —

you are driving

and I do not wish to die that way.

II.

This is just to say

I picked the summer blackberries,

which should probably have stayed

a day or two in the full sun.

Forgive me.

I could not wait

to taste a thing I nurtured

from my own rocky soil.

III.

I have shut your bathroom window

that you kept open

for fresh air off the pine trees.

I am sorry but

I could not bear to lose the smell of you

while you are away from me.