POETS FOR A DAY

• This is a very famous poem by the American poet William Carlos Williams

This is just to say

by William Carlos Williams

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

• It's the teacher's turn to paraphrase the poem  

This is just to say

by Jesús Marcos

This is just to say

I have prepared

a short speech

that is important 

to you

and which

you won't probably

like

too much

Forgive me

it's my job

so challenging and 

so cruel

• Now it's the students' turn. Using the expressions in bold as frame, students create new poems

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I HAVE READ

THE POEM

THAT WAS VERY

BORING

AND WHICH

WAS HIDDEN

IN A LIBRARY

FORGIVE ME

I LOST IT

SO BAD AND

SO UGLY

Well, it seems that they didn't like the poem too much. 

• Here is another one

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I HAVE READ

THE MAGAZINES

THAT WERE UNDER

YOUR BED

AND WHICH

YOU WERE PROBABLY

HIDING

FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT

FORGIVE ME

I THREW THEM

TO THE DUSTBIN

IT WAS DISGUSTING

SO PORN AND

SO FUN

Wow, this is getting serious

• And another one

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I HAVE FAILED

THE EXAMS

THAT WERE REALLY

REALLY DIFFICULT

AND WHICH

I WAS PROBABLY

HOPING

TO PASS

FORGIVE ME

I DIDN’T STUDY

SO HARD AND

SO LONG

Excuses, excuses

• One more

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I HAVE BROKEN

YOUR GLASSES

THAT WERE ON

THE TABLE

AND WHICH

YOU NEED TO SEE

OR DO

ANYTHING

FORGIVE ME

I’M SO BAD

SO CLUMSY AND

SO CARELESS

Are you sure you didn't do it on purpose?

• And the last one

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

I HAVE GIVEN

THE FOOD

THAT WAS ON

THE TABLE

AND WHICH

YOU WERE PROBABLY

THROWING

TO THE RUBBISH

FORGIVE ME

IT SMELT BAD

SO ROTTEN AND

SO DISGUSTING

who do you want to give rotten food to?