American Poetry
for Students of English Worldwide

..............Jack Kimball.............




Real Life with WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS

We will look at two poems by William Carlos Williams, an American doctor who became famous as a writer of simple, direct verse that uses "normal" or "ordinary" language. Many of his poems are about one strong picture-in-words or image from real life. Here is the first 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

In looking over This is Just to Say, could you suggest other words that mean the SAME as the following:

1) probably _______
2) icebox _______
3) forgive _______
4) delicious _______
5) saving _______



The following words have OPPOSITE meanings to the words in This is Just to Say. Find words in the poem that mean the OPPOSITE:

1) sour _______
2) hardly _______
3) hot _______
4) revenge _______



Read the poem This is Just to Say again. Do you feel the writer is really sorry for having eaten the plums?

What WORDS give clues to the writer's real feelings?

What time of day do you think this poem was written?

Why?



Here is another poem by William Carlos Williams.

Between Walls

the back wings
of the

hospital where
nothing

will grow lie
cinders

in which shine
the broken

pieces of a green
bottle



In the poem Between Walls what words could you suggest that mean the SAME as these:

1) cinders _______
2) pieces _______
3) shine _______
4) lie _______
5) broken _______



Choose words from Between Walls that have the OPPOSITE meaning to these:

1) front _______
2) everything _______
3) whole _______
4) dim _______



After re-reading Between Walls try to imagine why some people think the writer is talking about the green bottle as if it were a flower.

Do you agree?

If you do agree, what WORDS in the poem are clues?

If you do not agree, explain why.

What kind of "wings" is the writer talking about?



Here are some poems students of English have written in response to the two verses by William Carlos Williams.

Dear Biscuit (by Mayra Morales)

I'm
so
sorry
for
taking
you
away
from
your
friend
the
Dog

This Is Just To Say (by Andrew Vecchione)

Thank you for the ants you put in my bed.
This is just to say thank you for giving me the purple
sunset on my birthday.

Sorry and Good (by Vilma Mejias)

I
Dropped
a
glass
Nice
and
Sparkling
color
but
sorry
I
am
and
Glad
I
am
too.



In re-reading all these poems, choose ideas for a poem of your own. Try to write one or more poems using some of the same images (pictures-in-words) or new ones. If you would like to write about the same or similar feelings, do so.



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