Blog #1, Kate Gao, Period 6, 11/5/20, Day B

 Blog #1, Kate Gao, Period 6, 11/5/20, Day B 

Aim: How can we use the poem, “This is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams inspiration for our own poems? 

Do Now: 

Today’s Do Now started off as a “ Think/Pair/Share” activity about our own experience or others, people that we know, of a time when we know we did something that was “technically wrong” but didn’t feel bad or sorry for it, when we knew we should have. 

Many people with siblings can relate, with all those fights over something as little as who gets the last cookie or the first slice of cake to who broke the dishes and have to tell mom and dad. Those bits of moments where you joke around for the laughs and enjoy the moments with our family. In addition, there are also common fights between close friends, who are like your sister or brother from another mother. Fights that are just like ones between siblings, that often comes off as a joyful or funny memory later on or even an event that strengthens the relationship and the same with couples or family members. 

This image is an example of fights that are common 

between siblings- the fight of who gets the last hamburger 

But are also situations, like Sophia said, where people fight back to stand up for themself or others about the topics of bullying or discrimination or even abusive relationships. Because since the victims, the people on the receiving end of the string/relationship, endure all those pain and suffering that others have inflicted upon them, they generally don’t feel bad or sorry since it feels like they deserved it, for all those things they have done. Yet there are times when the victims do feel bad, and out of the kindness of their heart do forgive them. But people say, “it’s easier to forgive than to forget”. Meaning that even though they forgive those who hurt them, doesn’t mean they’ll forget it or that the experience won’t affect them or worse, mentally scar them for life. So one piece of advice, don’t do things that you will regret later on in the future because karma always has a way to make you pay for your misdeeds and you’ll regret it. Or just don’t do things you don’t want for yourself.

Discussion: 

In our lives, we either have apologized or received apologies from others many times in the past. Some are genuine apologies and others are fake or forced, but nonetheless, they apologized for their mistake and we did too. Yet there are times when we, ourselves, and others add something at the end that changes the whole message, the coordinating conjunction “but”. It’s always there in one form or another in an apology just to justify what they or we did. Sending the message of “disregard everything I just said just now” it's just like saying “sorry not sorry”, basically not really apologizing at all. 

In the poem “This Is Just To Say” by William Carlos Willams the word “but” doesn’t appear to be there, however through the strategy and the context of the poem, you can clearly see that the message is implied. He is saying sorry for eating the plums but went on how delicious and good it was. Basically saying how unfortunate it was for her, his wife, to miss out on the tasty plums, with the message of “oh well, too bad for you.” 

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

This poem doesn’t have a regular rhyme scheme or a syllabic count. With no rhyme and any form of punctuation, other than line-breaks. It is a poem that can be about anything or anyone from the earthworms in the soil to the flying pigeons soaring in the sky to tall skyscrapers in cities and mountain ranges in the countryside. 

Imagery in poetry 

The word image is from the word imago, which means “picture” in Latin. Image is the root word of imagination, it carries feelings and emotions. Just saying things like “I’m angry,” or “I’m sad,” has little impact, while on the other hand, images can make you feel how others feel and vise versa. 

Imagery is a poetic device that one can use to create images that expresses our emotions and feelings by awakening our five senses, it’s like setting the mood or tone of a conversation. And by adding those bits of specific details it is enough to stimulate our imagination and five senses, of touch, taste, hear, smell, and see, not just to make a picture in our minds, but to bring the world of the poem to life. From the beautiful sunset in the West to the feeling of satisfaction after a warm meal. Oftentimes we use imagery in our daily lives without even knowing it, to describe our favorite food or the unexpected emotions lingering in our chest. 

This image shows of the different images and sounds that can across our minds Red Room Poetry Object Poetic Device #2: Imagery | ClickView [2:31] 

A poem can use imagery many times to not only to describe an emotion or an image, but also an event. Such as the poem “Fast Break” By Edward Hirsch, this poem is only one sentence, or has only one period, with no other punctuation, within its structure, yet it’s a poem with many images of a basketball game. 

Student’s reflection 

Through this lesson, I learned more about the structure of poems, like a poem doesn’t have to rhyme or have to have punctuation or a syllable count or even a rhyme scheme to make it a poem. Poets are free to express their ideas and emotions without restrictions. And through the power of imagery, poets are able to not only let the reader see the world inside the poem but also

touch, taste, hear and smell it, as their five senses fuel their imagination. I learned this information to have a deeper understanding of poems and imagery, in order to apply it myself when I create my own poems. Using it to express, showcase, and share ideas, emotions, and events to others around the world.