This is Just to Say: After William Carlos Williams

Pandemic fun!

I wrote this poem in March of 2020 — feeling rather pandemically silly — and posted it on my website, as well as on my Instagram page. It was the second poem of my Plague Trilogy. (The others are here and here.) At the time, I thought it might be appropriate for a few more weeks, but our Covid-addled lives have lasted rather longer. It is, of course, based on the far superior William Carlos Williams poem of the same name.

This is Just to Say

I have eaten

the unsalted Saltines

that were in the

pantry

and the salted pistachios

and the President’s Choice oatmeal cookies

even though it is Lent

and I vowed no sweets

and the jar of Kosher Dills

that were in the

refrigerator

along with a chunk of that pricey Parmigiano-Reggiano

you told me was

only for pasta

and a swig of the

Hennessey (right from the bottle)

though you said we

shouldn’t squander it

also I took one

of your Ambien last night

***

these things

I know you had probably

hoped would last us all

through quarantine

***

Forgive me

I was stressed

and it made me

feel better