This Is Just to Say

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Yesterday afternoon, as I was grilling my pan of vegetables and dillyburgers, the smoky smell filled the air as it billowed out from the grill and wafted across the yard. As I savored the smell,  I hoped someone was out on their patio or walking the neighborhood so they might be tormented by the grilling smells. Thinking these thoughts reminded me of poems of false apology by William Carlos William. I consulted Gail Carson Levine’s book Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It for guidance as I developed my poem of false apology.

I was grilling 
the burgers and veggies
on my
patio

which made your
mouth salivate
and
stomach grumble

Forgive me
I savored
every single
grilled morsel

Here is William Carlos William’s original poem.

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