Poetry Friday Round-up is with Jama at Jama’s Alphabet Soup
Amidst the season of post tests and field trips, I am still trying to squeeze poetry in to the school day. For the letter G, I decided to teach poems of apology using This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman. This is a delightful book of poems written by Mrs. Merz’s sixth grade class. Joyce begins this book with the classic apology poem by William Carlos Williams. Can you recite it?
This is Just to Say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the iceboxFind the full poem here.
The first character, Thomas, uses this form to write the poem “This is Just to Say/ I have stolen/ the jelly doughnuts/ that were in/ the teacher’s lounge…” to Mrs. Garcia in the office. Mrs. Garcia responds with her own poem ending with “Of course I forgive you./ But I still have to call your mother.”
When my students and I were writing poems of apology, some used the WCW title as first line. I love how this small poem from Kendall expresses a common problem among 6th graders, hurt feelings.
This is just to say
I am sorry for this day
that I have treated you this way
you don’t have to accept my apology but hey
I didn’t mean to offend,
it sort of just slipped out along with shame
I hope you did not take it the wrong way
–Kendall
I gave my poem to my principal to apologize for being late. She said I set the bar for apology notes. The funny thing is many of these things listed actually do happen and do make me late.
Mrs. Heumann , Mrs. Heumann,
I just want to say
I’m sorry for being late today.The alarm didn’t shout;
the dog got out;My coffee over-flowed,
while I watched oatmeal explode.There was a 50 car-train,
a truck hauling sugarcane.The bridge was open, cars were slowed.
A trash can blew into the road.The sun in my eyes, oh the glare.
Then a cow, would he dare?Enough, you say. OK?
Just sorry,
I was late today.
–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
And Kaylie stopped by the kidblog and saw all the Apolo-G poetry and added her own to her pencil.
I’m sorry, pencil, for dulling your head
Your sharp-tipped graphite point
I’m sorry for gnawing on your side,
My teeth-prints etched in your cedarI’m sorry, pencil, for tapping your eraser on the desk,
For rubbing on the soft pink curls of your hair
And sweeping them awayI’m sorry for losing you and dropping you and trading you.
I’m sorry for putting your end in the pencil sharpener,
For tossing you away when you got too small.Pencil, I’m sorry for hurting you all these years.
Will you ever be able to forgive me?
In writing this post, I found Joyce Sidman’s website and a great resource guide for using This is Just to Say in the classroom.
The students in the class where I’m working just wrote these a few weeks ago. They adored them. I will share your post with them, Margaret. Love your ‘creative, but true’ excuses!
Is’nt this a wonderful collection. Were going to be working on these in a few weeks – can’t wait!
Wonderful poems, all! Your own “list of excuses” is definitely the best apology note for being late ever. 🙂
Joyce Sidman sure does have a fair share of wonderful books out there, doesn’t she! The poems you highlighted here are fabulous! I love the honest, no-nonsense approach that Kendall takes in his. I know a few 6th graders who could learn a thing or two from that poem.
Loved your poem for being late. Wht fun.
That book by Joyce Sidman just gives and gives. I liked that your apology poem was filled with things that really can and do happen–all together in a satisfying way. I love your student’s pencil apology too–also satisfying in its familiarity.
LOVE that book! It spurs on such gorgeous poems.
I had the chance to listen to Joyce Sidman speak at NCTE. She is incredible!
So many wonderful directions the apologies can take! Thank you for sharing these. Kaylie has an excellent way with description and detail.
What a great class project, Margaret! I love how all these apology poems take on their own personality, even though they start from the same place…some long, some short, some rhyming, some not. They make me want to write an apology poem of my own.
Hmm…I’m thinking that apology poems can work a little like a thank you note! Maybe I’ll have my fifth graders write these as parting gifts to former teachers and others in the school (lunch ladies, janitors, secretaries, clinic aide…)
Great idea! This is just to say…
I had to smile at that beautiful apology to the pencil. I must say that this is one of my favourite poetry books. Such fun, be the apology heartfelt or otherwise. 🙂