This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

By Joyce Sidman

Book Overview

When Mrs. Merz asks her sixth grade class to write poems of apology, they end up liking their poems so much that they decide to put them together into a book. Not only that, but they get the people to whom they apologized to write poems back.

In haiku, pantoums, two-part poems, snippets, and rhymes, Mrs. Merz's class writes of crushes, overbearing parents, loving and losing pets, and more. Some poets are deeply sorry; some not at all. Some are forgiven; some are not. In each pair of poems a relationship, a connection, is revealed.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618616802
• ISBN13: 9780618616800
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.8" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

Explores topic poignantly and humorously

I'm the parent of a third grader who has begun to seek out poetry to read on her own. She loves this book, which we've read together. She knows about the two naughty words singled out by other reviewers here, and she knows I don't approve of them being used in polite society. I pointed out that the use of the naughty words gives a glimpse of the intensity of the writer's feelings, and that the words are not used as vulgar punctuation or to shock the recipient of the poem. We finished that social lesson and were able to really enjoy the poignancy and humor in the poems. To my knowledge, my third grader has not been using vulgar words since reading this book. I recommend this book for upper elementary grades and older lovers of poetry. I also recommend Sidman's book "Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors."

Wonderful book

This book of poems written by school children is like any poetry book should be; funny, poignant, profound, and very enjoyable.

Fun and Funny

After reading this book, it is no surprise that it was chosen as a Texas Bluebonnet Award recipient. Have you ever read that apologetic poem by William Carlos Williams called "This is Just to Say?" If not, let me paste it for you here: "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." Beautiful, no? Well, a school class, after studying this poem, decided to write their own versions, apologizing to someone and righting a wrong. Well, to their surprise, they got replies! Well-crafted, hilarious, beautiful replies! This poems and their replies are endearingly witty. Two examples- in one, a boy apologizes to the school secretary for sneaking a doughnut, and the secretary replies that his charm is endless, but she still has to call his parents. In another, a girl apologizes for hurting her little sister, and the sister replies, "Roses are red/ violets are blue/ I am still/ pissed off at you." A great read, and I would imagine a fun way to get kids interested in poetry.

Apologies and forgiveness

This is such a delightful book to be enjoyed just as much by adults as children. And, perhaps if we were all inspired to write apologies, the world would be a happier place.

What a concept!

This is a refreshing look at poetic form. Excellent choice to motivate reluctant writers to pen their own original verse. Immersed in Verse: An Informative, Slightly Irreverent & Totally Tremendous Guide to Living the Poet's Life