Sometimes I think college classes are designed to make you feel stupid. There really can be no other explaination for some of the asinine questions you are supposed to answer. Then again, maybe it's the fact that as a stay at home mother for the past ten years my mind has atrophied into a Barney melted purple puddle of goo. Before motherhood, I could read a poem and see the hidden meanings and symbols that come from higher intelligence (or at least believing that I knew everything.) Now when I read a poem about plums, I honestly think it's about plums. I mean really people, why write a poem about plums if it isn't about plums!! Just cut to the chase and tell me what it's really about, otherwise the only thing I'm going to get out of it is an insane craving for plums!! Lest you think I am going crazy I will post said poem and you can tell me if I'm just going crazy:
"This is just to say"
by William Carlos Williams
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
That's it! That's the poem. I thought it was a nice poem, until I read the notes from my teacher, that said the poem is really about temptation and forgiveness??!! REALLY?! Then why didn't he just say that?
So here I am feeling dumb as could be, when I hear another poem. The thing is, the poem was kind of obscure, but I understood it! I really got it. Only because this poem written so long ago, describes (with scary accuracy) the world in my story. My version is a bit toned down due to the fact that it is a middle grade novel...but seriously S.T. Coleridge and I had the same dream. How scary is that? Enjoy the Youtube version below. I'm not sure what I expect you to get out of the this post or if it even makes sense, because after two hours straight of reading poetry, my purple mushy brain is getting worse, if that is even possible!
That poem was incredible (the Coleridge one). He painted that world so magnificently! If that is the world of your dreams, Nikki, then I need to trade my dreams for something better because I've been gipped!!
ReplyDeleteKubla Khan is one of my favorites! Oh my gosh, I love, love, love that poem!
ReplyDeleteAnd, gotta tell you, I love William Carlos Williams too. :)
You know, I'm glad you put up this post. I used to be the biggest poetry fan. I don't read it nearly as much as I should these days. Too caught up in life/my own writing. But, I need to get back into the poetry mode. This post has inspired me! :)
One last thing. In a poetry class I took in college, we spent an entire class hour in a heated discussion of the themes in "This is just to say."
ReplyDeleteThere was this one guy (who wanted to be called only "Steel,") who insisted that the poem was about a couple that "made a mistake" before their wedding night. lol, it was a pretty awesome debate. :D
My brain is truely fried! That is all I have to say! Can I use pregnancy brain as an excuse???
ReplyDeleteOoh! I loved this poem Nikki! We've all been there before, seriously! The funny thing is the next time you read the plum poem you're so gonna see the temptation and forgiveness! LOL! Jenni
ReplyDeleteTalk about fried brains, I don't believe I forgot to post again yesterday! Please don't fire me, I swear I'll do it next week.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Nikki, and I'm with you, I love poetry, but I like it when a poem says what it means and means what it says.
Too funny....rolling on floor.....must. stop. laughing.
ReplyDeleteCandi-I know that is so my new favorite poem. He was much better at describing the dream than I am. It's something to work towards.
ReplyDeleteRenee-I'm glad at least one of us is cultured enough to read poetry!! You will have to enlighten the rest of us occasionally.
Mary-Pregnancy brain is so a medical term didn't you know? The symptoms include but are not limited to locking keys in the car/house on a weekly basis, loosing a kid or two, and forgetting the much awaited dinner in the oven until smoke is emerging. When in this condition please step away from any obsure poetry that may worsen the symptoms.
Jenni-Thanks for understanding! I'm glad I'm not alone!
Kasie-YOUR FIRED! Just kidding. I always wanted to say that. I feel a little connection to Donald Trump now. LOL!
Tess-Welcome to our humble blog. We hope to see you often. Oh and if you have stopped laughing, please scroll down to the post titled "Wanted: Guest Bloggers". We would love to meet you! Thanks!
Yeah, I'm with you... I want to eat plums. Great 2nd poem though, I like it much more than the first! ;)
ReplyDeleteW.C. Williams was always one of the "marks" we aimed for in undergraduate poetry writing class @ BYU. Reading his stuff in groups was like, wow. It still gives me that "wow" feeling to read it again, after all these many years.
ReplyDelete