William Carlos Williams : This Is Just To Say
An Understanding and Analysis of The Imagist Style
Williams is a pioneer in poetry, he is among one of the first imagists to open the door into a whole new realm of poetry. The poem "This Is Just To Say" is among the most prominent imagist poems in recorded history.
This Is Just To Say
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.
Imagist Poetry
To better understand "This Is Just To Say" as well as all of Williams' work, a definition of imagist poetry is in order. Imagist poetry can be difficult to define because there are many perceptions of what exactly it is. Imagist poetry is a seeming contradiction. It is concise and simple in the visual aspect as well as the literal meaning, but it is also quite complex in its "actual" meaning. Imagist poetry paints a concrete picture for the reader while expressing a deeper meaning.
This particular poem uses clean and succinct language to create a picture. At first glance this poem comes off almost as if it were a note left on the table next to the empty plum container awaiting discovery.
At first glance this poem seems like nothing more than a simple note, but after it is read the reader starts to notice the poetic feel of the words. The reader gets dragged in by the simplicity and swallowed by the complexities.
The language in this poem is very crisp, clear and to the point. There isn't a word over three syllables in the poems entirety and the poem itself is only 28 words. This poem is by right and by form simplistic in nature.
The Intended Meaning or MeaningsThere is no tangible answer as to what this poem is pertaining to, many observations can be made and many questions can be raised. Is the poem about a love affair? Does the poem have nothing to do with love? Is forgiveness really what the speaker seeks? Is the speaker sincere in apologizing? Is the speaker self-righteous? Polite? Pleased? Good-humored?
One take would be that this was a note left for a lover, not necessarily a love or significant other, but a lover. It was left in a taunting manner, this can be derived from that fact that the speaker detailed the plums in a way that made them seem erotic and tantalizing. The speaker also makes it known that he/she knew that the plums weren't for eating, but that he/she ate them anyway. It is funny in a twisted sort of way.
This poem can be universal in that most people know what it is like to be taunted by a lover, or at the very least have something they desired or were saving taken away for the amusement of another. The fact that this poem is so universal adds to its general appeal, it makes it personal to the reader.
Though the poem does generate many unanswered questions. What is the relationship between the sender and the reciever? Who are they? Was the culprit forgiven? Since Williams never answered these questions they are left to the wondering mind of the reader, perhaps in an effort to taunt them the same way as the poem's speaker.
Sneaky PoetryThis poem sneaks up on the reader; he/she looks and is inquisitive because at a glance this doesn't seem like much of a poem at all. Then, all of a sudden the readers' mind is shooting off in all directions trying to interpret what exactly the situation surrounding the image is and all that is left is an image of tantalizing plums to taunt you. This poem turns into a love affair gone awry and all of this stems from the simple image of plums. Thus is the beauty of imagist poetry.
