WilliamCarlosWilliams



=William Carlos Williams by Margaux Aquino=

September 17, 1883-March 4, 1963
William Carlos Williams was an American poet, born in Rutherford New Jersey in 1883. Growing up, Williams loved to write poetry, after high school, he pursued a medical career and received his MD from the medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. He later discovered that in his adult life, he could excel at both writing and medicine. At the University of Pennsylvania, Williams met one of his best friends, Ezra Pound, who was a great component in the progression on Williams' career in poetry. Williams is considered a "truly American poet" because unlike many American poets of his time, Williams stayed away from European writing trends and clung to the simplicity and straight-forward nature of true American writing. Williams often captured everyday American lives and simple American scenes. For this reason, it makes a lot of sense that Williams was part of the Imagist movement in which free verse writers strived to create clear and precise images in a concise way. These strong images and simplicity are greatly reflected in some of Williams' poems such as "This is Just to Say," "The Red Wheelbarrow," and "Danse Russe."

This is Just to Say
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

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"This is Just to Say" truly shows Williams' American Imagist style-the poem is simple and very candid, as if it could have been a written note left on the kitchen counter, yet it displays a humorous story and great images of the plums. It's amazing how Williams made something so simple sound funny and artistic. He makes it seem as though all types of writing can be art, even notes. It makes the reader wonder if Williams actually did eat the plums out of the icebox one morning.

Home Late
Working late tonight.

There is bread and cheese in the fridge.

Sorry, I need to go grocery shopping soon.

I'm not saying that you should take your siblings out to eat.

But if you did, that would be super.

I'll pay you back.