This Is Just To Say

I was trawling some of the books on creative writing the other day, looking to find a task to set for the Breathe Writers meeting today. The original poem the book used for the task was “This Is Just To Say” by William Carlos Williams - 1883-1963. I wrote my own short similar kind of poem:-

This is Just To Say

I have just noticed

the scribbles

on the pages of

your passport

which

you are probably

going to need to

travel to Peru next week

Alfie would apologise

but he hasn’t yet learned to speak

He loves

the colour red

The Task - Imagine you are the owner of the passport. Write a reply. You can write in the same form with the same number of syllables, the same number of lines and line breaks if you wish. Or you can write your reply as a paragraph of 50 words.

My husband has been coming along to the group. He doesn’t claim to be creative but says he comes to support me. He read his reply as a rap:-

I am the bear found on Paddington Station

On Tuesday I return to my Peruvian nation

Alas and alack my young friend Alfred

Decided to colour my passport dark red

It won’t rub off and it won’t erase

But I know Alfie is just going through a phase

I am sure the custom’s officer will be firm but fair

For the photo in the passport is clearly Paddington Bear

My own reply was is a little more predictable:-

My dearest Alfie

the scribbles

on the pages of

my passport

mean

I cannot go

to darkest Peru

next week or anytime soon

I expect an apology

this time next year without fail

For now

please use a pencil

I don't have a copy of Cliff's reply. He decided that Alfie was a dog.

A great time was had by all.