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William Carlos Williams, "This Is Just to Say"

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Reading Questions

Text on p. 927 of the full Ninth Edition and p. 695 of the shorter Ninth Edition.






5





10

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

Reading Questions

1. What looks unusual about this poem to you?

2. Try to imagine the circumstances suggested by this poem—where it is written, what sort of paper it might be written on, but especially who the writer and the intended reader are and what their gender and relationship might be. Think of several possibilities, if you can. What "tones of voice" do you "hear" behind the poem? Serious? Sarcastic? Loving? Apologetic? Smug? Tactful? Triumphant? Good-humored? Others? Try reading it aloud with different tones in mind.

3. Does the poem have the tone of a serious apology to you? If not, why? What sort of response do you think it might evoke?

 

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