WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS PROMPT.

photos by D.R. Wagner

We used a poem by William Carlos Williams as a prompt for the first exercise. Everyone did fairly well here and the work was quite good.

ETHAN KATZNELSON

1.

Tickets

I have bought

The playoff tickets

That were in

High demand

And which

You are wishing

Hoping

That you had

Forgive me

They are perfect

So great

And so expensive…

2.

The Last Cookie

I have eaten

The last cookie

That was

Made from scratch

And which

You were hoping

Longing

To devour

Forgive me

It was tasty

So crunchy

And chocolaty

ALEXANDRA DEMPSEY

I have purchased

the guppies

that were flirting

through the tank

and which

were dying

slowly

at Petco

Forgive me

they were expensive

so colourful

and pregnant

*

I have forgotten

the cards

that were drying

in the oven

and which

we were tentatively

considering

for poker

Forgive me

they were scattered

so crusty

and water stained

AMIR BEGOVIC

LET ME OUT

I have outgrown

the rooms

that were

made for me

And which

you were hoping

I would

stay

Forgive me

they were suffocating

so dark

and not mine

LOTS OF JUICE

I have spilled

the quarts of pomegranate juice

that were

sitting on the kitchen counter

And which

were being served

to your abominable

“friends”

Forgive me

they were red

so tangy

and permanent

MARIE CASES

. Dear Second Grade Teacher

I have written

Those poems

You called

Awful

And which

Were unskilled

And amateur

In you Eyes

Forgive me

They were fresh

So soft

And so silly

2. Dear Roommate

I had set

The alarm

That was

For 10

And which

Was accidentally

Set for

5:30

Forgive me

It was unpleasant

So early

And unwelcome

BEN STEINHER

Batman

I have wandered

The stars

That were striking

And which were lonely

Like the dark knight

Stalking the dark night

Forgive me

They were criminals

So devious

And corrupt.

I am Batman.

Cat Woman

I have whipped

The shadows

That were taunting

And where lingering

Whispering

Scratching at the door

Forgive me

They were two-faced

So wicked

And yet divine.

I am catwomen.

MICHAEL ARBEED

I haven’t finished

the assignments

that were given

in my classes

And which

they expected me to do

diligently

for practice

Forgive me

they weren’t easy

so daunting

and tedious

*

I have stolen

The money

That you had

In your pockets

And that

You were probably

Saving

For lunch

Forgive me

Your wallet was large

So easy

And fat

ALBERT HSIEH

I have stopped

the people

that were bullying the children

And who were also destroying

the children’s future

Forgive me

They were bad

so I had to stop them

and do no regret it

*

I have lied to

the people

that were the most helpful to me

And who were also the ones

that loved me the most

Forgive me

They are not meant to hear

so I lied to them

and continued to love them

FELICIA ALVAREZ

I have broken
the couches
that were
in the yard

And which
were placed
for sale
and profit

Forgive me
They were cushioned
so soft
and safe

---------------------

I have neglected
the dishes
that were
spotted and dirty

And which
were waiting
for me
to clean

Forgive me
They were many
so scummy
and frightening

STEPHANIE HOOGSTAD

Just Because I Must

I have rejected

the traditions

that were

shown to me

And which

were most likely

important

to you

Forgive me

They were stupid

so dated

and unlike me

The Blankets

I have stolen
the blankets
that were
stored in the closet

And which
were folded
into
neat little piles

Forgive me
They were comfortable
so fuzzy
and warm

SEAN GAFFNEY

I have opened

The presents

That were

In the closet

And which

Were not meant

To be seen

By me yet

Forgive me

They looked so exciting

So mysterious

And so fun

*

I have tossed

The milk

That was

Spoiled

And which

You were

Too lazy

To throw away

Forgive me

It was gross

So disgusting

And so smelly

KRINJAL MATHUR

I have taken
the blankets
that were on
your bed

and which
you were surely
going to use
when you returned

forgive me
they were so cozy
warm
and inviting

I have drunk
the water
that was
sitting on the table

and which
was perhaps

not meant

for me

forgive me
it was thirst quenching
so delicious
and satisfying

KEVIN DUMLER

I have cut

the trees

that were on

the hill

and which

you all

seemed

to enjoy

Forgive me

they were profitable

so fat

and lingering

*

I have cut

the hair

that is

in the back

and which you

were perhaps

saving for

another day.

Forgive me

they were unkempt

so long

and astray

MYRA ORGAIN

I have abducted

the cats

that were on

the couch

And which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were asking for it

so forlorn

and desperate

I have burned

the pashmina shawls

that were sprawled around

your boudoir

And which

you were likely to

incorporate

into your bohemian armoire

Forgive me

they were a crime against humanity

so gaudy

and unattractive

CHARISSE ARIELL BONGCO

The Temptation

I have savored
the chocolate bars
that were
hidden in my house

And which
were probably hidden
by my mother
from my father

Forgive me
They were delightful
so creamy
and satisfying

The Sin

Top of Form

I have broken

the diet

that was

prescribed by

my doctor

And which

was probably

improving

my health

Forgive me

The chocolate was tempting

so seductive

and intoxicating

SAMUEL REISMAN

i have cleaned

the messes

that were

made by you

and which

were a product

of your

carelessness

forgive me

they were

revealing,

so obviously,

your personality.

*

i have considered

the possibilities

that were

presented

and which

you were

trying

so hard

to sell

forgive me

they were wrong.

so sincere, and enthusiastic.

and yet, so incorrect.

CORALIE DONKERS

Mold Month

I have cleaned

the crevices

that were

so hidden.

And which

were harboring

unwelcomed

guests.

Forgive me

They were intruding;

so dark

and unnerving.

*

Sick of the sea

I have tamed

the seas

that were

so fearless.

And which

were thrashing

with salty

naivety.

Forgive me

They were selfish;

so boisterous

and unrefined.