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Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: This is Just to Say

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This week I have been thinking about where ideas for books, stories and poems come from, which has led to two blog posts – about the origins of Queen Narelle (here) and also Head Hog (here) .

And, as often happens when I start thinking on a subject, I get hyper-focussed (hello ADHD brain!)  and so, when I sorted through some old poems yesterday, and stumbled across the one I’m about to share, I knew I had a topic for a Poetry Friday post – which is very good, because it has been a while since I Poetry Fridayed, in spite of my best intentions.

Anyway, here is the poem I found in my archives:

This is just to say

I have eaten

the cake

that was in

the pantry

 

and which

you were probably

saving

for visitors.

 

Forgive me

We had

no peaches

and no icy plums.

(Sally Murphy, 2017)

If you are a poetry lover, you will probably instantly guess that the idea for this poem came from  the very famous William Carlos Williams poem of the same title, which you can read here.   And you would be correct.

Williams’ poem has a really special place in my heart because it is the first free verse poem I remember being introduced to – in Year 8 English. As in many schools, we were asked to write our own ‘This is Just to Say’ poems.  I have a really visceral memory of realising that poetry could be about anything – and, importantly, did not have to rhyme.  I was already a great lover of poetry, but this poem changed my life!

Later, much later, I wrote Pearl Verses the World, in which Pearl’s relationship with her Granny is heighted by their shared loved of poetry.   Pearl remembers:

One day Granny read me   Pearl Verses the World

A poem

About a man stealing a plum.

(Sally Murphy, 2009)

and her surprise that it didn’t rhyme. Granny’s response:

…didn’t you know

A poem does not have to rhyme?

It does not have to be written

In a certain way

At a certain time.

No.

A poem comes

When it is needed

And writes itself

In the way it needs

To get its point across. 

(Sally Murphy, 2009).

Of course, this little scene is a nod to Williams’ poem (as well as to the lovely relationship between Pearl and her much-loved Granny). But I don’t name the poem – which means not all readers will know the allusion, and that is fine.  But, a few years after the book was published, it was made into a play by Jigsaw Theatre in Canberra, and I was fortunate enough to go and see the play.  Seeing my book come to life in this way was always  going to be amazing, but there was the most AMAZING moment when, at a key point in  he play, some lines from Williams’ poem were cleverly revealed on the stage.  I cried. The producers had not only figured out the allusion but had cleverly incorporated part of the poem into the set.

I could write about this all day, but to get back to the poem I wrote in 2017,  several years later:  while working on my Doctorate, focussing on children’s poetry, I decided to experiment a little with using famous poems as mentor texts. And, of course, I had to use Williams’ poem.  I tried to picture what food it would be that I would be unable to resist – and chocolate cake seemed likely. But those plums had to get a mention too!

Speaking of being unable to resist things – I am off to check out more poetry courtesy of my fellow Poetry Fridayers. You can, too, by following the roundup hosted this week by Rose. 

 

Comments

  2. What a great story, Sally! And I always thought plums were way too easily resistable, personally :>D Have you read Joyce Sidman’s This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness? It’s one of my favorite children’s poetry picture books ever.

  3. Sally, how fun that the realization that poems don’t have to rhyme has led to so much success for you! What a thrill to see something you wrote turn into a play! When I led a writer’s circle for third-grade students, introducing them to free verse and the fact that poems didn’t have to rhyme was so freeing for their imagination! They expressed disbelief at first but then after being given examples, they were grateful to know this about poetry! I wish I still had a group to share your wonderful book with them!

  5. Sally, welcome back! Such a fun post. I love the details you give about Pearl and her granny. Pearl Verses the World is such a grand title. (I just checked it out and started reading it!) So much wisdom here by Granny:

    A poem comes

    When it is needed

    And writes itself

    In the way it needs

    To get its point across.

  6. Sally, welcome back to your PoetryFridayed visits. I am glad that you joined us with such an interesting look into your process. Having your book honored with a play is amazing. I am holding on to your ending of your poem because it speaks to me.
    A poem comes
    When it is needed
    And writes itself
    In the way it needs
    To get its point across.
    (Sally Murphy, 2009).
    I hope you can join me with a quick write about the end of summer that happened months ago for you. I am inviting everyone to offer their thoughts/poems/photos next week when I host PF. Maybe one of your swimming poems will do justice to the theme.

  7. How fun to have two doses of WCW in the roundup this week!

    How fun to have your book turned into a play!

  8. So nice to see you here, Sally! Your poem with those “icy plums” at the finish is lovely in itself, and also as a tribute. Your post also made me think of Joyce Sidman’s fabulous “This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness”–a favorite of mine. I love that you got to see your words on the stage and that you allowed room for the reader to “get” the allusion or not.

  9. Sally, it’s good to find you here and good that I’m reading your post, which somehow is coming to me (as well as I know and love this poem, which is almost a cliche, a joke by now) in a new way today. I’ve been having trouble writing in the last months, but I think maybe the poems are ready to come again,
    “When it is needed

    And writ[ing] itself

    In the way it needs

    To get its point across.

  10. Oh, how wonderful to learn some of your own poetic backstory, and stories behind your work! Thanks for sharing all, Sally. The plums and cake might not last forever, but your words have staying power.

  11. Sally, I enjoyed the ‘look back’ you provided regarding the sparking of your poetry origins. Loved that. We, who love poetry, often have those memorable moments surrounding the awakening of our poet’s hearts. Interesting that you mention origins for poetic project and pursuits. I am currently looking at that very thing. The vast array of ‘sparks’ that inform our poetic endeavours. It is fascinating to look more closely at these matters. Love the reference to ‘Pearl.’ -such a lovely homage to William Carlos Williams.

    • Thanks Alan. Origins of stories and poems are always interesting to consider – sometimes I am not quite sure where an idea sprang from.

  13. It is always a delight to read your posts, Sally, so I’m glad to see you back and sharing a fun poem after WCW, and finding the time to share even more, about your book & your happiness seeing it as a play. I know you’re moving into spring. Hoping it’s bringing lovely days!

  15. A poem comes when it is needed. That is so very true, Sally! Thank you for using Poetry Friday like a verb! xo

  16. Oh, I’ve missed your posts. It’s so good to see one today. Have you had time to swim? I hope so. I picked up a copy of Pearl verses the World last summer and really enjoyed it — I could “see” the plot line and was using it as a mentor text. Too bad about that cake…I was going to be “the company,” but maybe next week 😉

    • Thanks Linda. It is good to have time to post! Not much swimming been happening here – partly because of busyness, partly because of winter, but looking forward to getting back into it soon. And if you drop by, I’ll bake a cake specially 😉

  17. Thank you for sharing your work, Sally! I love the way you incorporated WCW’s plums into your poem. And what a treat to see your work performed!

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