Calling All Poets and Teachers:

Summary

The website content presents a poetry challenge inspired by William Carlos Williams' poem "This Is Just To Say," inviting poets and teachers to create their own apology poems using his template.

Abstract

The article titled "A Poetry Challenge" calls upon poets and educators to engage in a creative exercise by writing apology poems. It references the work of William Carlos Williams, particularly his poem "This Is Just To Say," as an example of how everyday apologies can be transformed into poetry. The challenge is designed to inspire both freedom and structure in writing, encouraging participants to find artistic inspiration in mundane aspects of life. The author, a teacher, shares their own adaptation of Williams' poem during the Covid pandemic as a model for students, emphasizing that art and poetry can be found in unexpected places and can be expressed through all senses. The article concludes with an invitation to various writers and educators on the platform to take up the challenge and share their creations.

Opinions

The author expresses admiration for William Carlos Williams' ability to find poetry in simple, everyday apologies.
The author appreciates the subtle blend of remorse and delight in Williams' poem, noting its "sassiness."
The article suggests that the act of writing an apology poem can be both a creative and therapeutic exercise.
The author believes that inspiration for poetry can be discovered in the least expected places, advocating for the use of all senses to enhance artistic perception.
The author values the brevity and impact of Williams' poem, highlighting its effectiveness as a catalyst for creativity among writers of all levels.
The author issues a "dare" to the writing community, showing confidence in the power of the template poem to inspire new works.

An Apology Note as Poetry

Before there were Post-Its, there were apology notes left on desks, pillows, and bathroom sinks. Times may change, but humanity’s emotions haven’t. Instead of writing a penciled or ink-dipped note of apology to express one’s remorse, we now shoot off texts and emails.

The late poet, William Carlos Williams, showed us that poetry can be found everywhere — including those awkward, simple, yet eye-opening apology notes.

Here’s William Carlos Williams’ famous apology poem (This Is Just To Say)

The Big “I’m Sorry”

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

I love Williams’ subtle sassiness in that last stanza: asking for forgiveness yet simultaneously throwing the delight he experienced in the other person’s face. The speaker is both apologizing yet gloating, any remorse eclipsed with utter delight.

As a teacher, I created a model of this poem for my students during the peak of Covid. Here’s what my apology poem looked like:

Image design by Sheri Jacobs on Canva

Inspiration for poetry — like any form of creation, can be found in the least expected places. Art is all around, just waiting for us to bring our perceptions to our observations — using all of our senses.

Calling All Poets and Teachers:

An Apology Note as Poetry

The Big “I’m Sorry”

Short and (Very) Sweet

The Writing Dare