Bluebyrd plum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A couple of summers ago, to gain a few more credit hours (teachers have to do that), I took a class for reading and writing poetry. We learned about using various writing prompts to lead to poetry writing. One of my favorites was starting with someone else’s poem and then “answering” it.

So for a change of pace, I offer you my answer to William Carlos Williams. First, the original:

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

And now mine:

Answering Williams

“This is just to say”

I was indeed

saving the plums

in the icebox

for breakfast.

If the thought even

occurred to you

that they were mine

(and obviously it did)

Why did

you

eat

them?

Forgive you?

I

think

not.

Next time, my contribution to the Village Blacksmith. 🙂

–Author S