This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman. Joyce. 2007. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS. Ill. by Pamela Zabarenski. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618616802

     2.  PLOT SUMMARY

     In this poet compilation book, Sidman records letters of apology written in the voices of sixth grade students. The students' teacher, Mrs. Merz, has required her students to write an apology to someone in their life in the form of a poem. In return, the students receive poems of forgiveness from the recipients of their apologies. The students' poems cover a broad range of apologies from the pain of putting a pet to sleep to dodge ball injuries to stealing donuts from the teachers' lounge. The second part of the book features the responses these students received after sending the poems of apology. Some recipients were completely forgiving, others were slow to resolve the issues, while some completely refused to release the grudge they held for the wrongdoing.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This poetry collection captures the mixed emotions associated with apologies and forgiveness. The heartfelt language and honesty, coupled with the colorful and original artwork, makes it easy for readers to sympathize with both the one apologizing and the one forgiving. A table of contents makes for easy page references when the reader is pairing apology poems with their response poem. An introduction and the title poem THIS IS JUST TO SAY begins the collection. Part 1 is comprised of 18 poems of apology, while Part 2 echoes these in the form of responses. Free verse characterizes these poems, therefore eliminating the need for rhyme. This makes for a very natural conversation type of language. This free flow of words without the restraint of rhyme reflects the openness and honesty of the students' voices.

Each poem is characterized by a unique sound. For example, in the poem NOT REALLY, Sidman uses repetition of the line "but not really" to emphasize the frustration and hurt Bobby is feeling because Maria refuses to go out with him. Figurative language may be viewed in the personification of the brownies in BROWNIES-OOPS! "The gooey hunks of chocolate / winked at me as I gobbled them." This use of personification helps convey the sense that the brownies were communicating with Maria, the writer, that her secret will be kept safe. In the same poem, imagery is heightened through sensory words such as "warm, thick / brick of brownies" (Sidman, 2007, 14).

The reader is likely to experience a range of emotions while reading this collection of poems. Some lighthearted apologies may cause the reader to chuckle, while others touch the heart and are likely to produce a few tears. Especially moving lines in the poem IT WAS QUIET reflect the pain and sadness a boy feels from having to say goodbye to his sick dog. "We wanted to save you some pain. / I hope we did the right thing" (Sidman, 2007, 20).

Zagarenski uses a variety of tools including canvas, wood, collage, and computer generated images to create the unique illustrations in this book. The illustrations are vivid and engaging with a variety of patterns including stripes, dots, squiggles, and other abstract designs. In addition, words are incorporated into the illustrations to complement the poem. For example, the page with the poem I’M TELLING YOU NOW features an image of a father with his son and a thought bubble with the word "proud." Computer graphics allow the implementation of scraps of graph paper, newspaper, and even print from dictionary pages defining key words such as "response" and "apology." These mixed media sources provide a unique texture that easily intrigues the reader as they journey through these heartfelt apologies and responses.

4. PERSONAL RESPONSE: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

I really enjoyed the organization of this poetry collection. I thought it was unique that the author chose to include responses to the poems of apologies. It was neat to observe the range of reactions from completely sympathetic and forgiving to refusing to acknowledge the apology. These responses are very accurate of real life situations.

One weakness was the organization of the book into two separate parts: apologies and acceptances. Some readers suggest that it would be easier to grasp each scenario if related apologies and responses were featured next to each other on opposite pages rather than in two separate parts. However, the table of contents helps remedy this slight disadvantage. 

5. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust." (SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL)

"…the poems successfully navigate the complicated terrain for those who seek forgiveness." (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY)

"Children will find much to identify with in the situations presented in the apology poems, and they'll appreciate the resolutions given in the responses." (BOOKLIST)

6. CONNECTIONS

* Students can participate in a sort of reader's theater by pairing up and reading aloud a poem of apology and forgiveness from the book.

*This poem collection could be used to begin a book club or discussion group on forgiveness and character building.

*Students can write their own apology poem and request a response from a sibling, parent, friend, teacher, etc.