This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness (Sidman)

Sidman, Joyce. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin , 2007. ISBN 9780618616800

Sidman shows us what it means to be human in her book This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Although written for a younger audience, this unique collection of poetry beautifully expresses the universal emotions of regret, guilt, grief, anger, pleasure, humor, and forgiveness. Memorable metaphors are sprinkled throughout Sidman’s poetry. Phrases such as “laugh that starts tidal waves”, “dust thick as velvet”, and “his toes whispered on our hands” create amazingly clear mental images that will remain with the reader long after the poem has been read.

The book is composed of a variety of poetic forms, including haiku and pantoum, that are meant to be the individual works of a fictional sixth grade class. In Part 1 of the collection, each student has written a unique poem that expresses apology, or lack thereof.  In return, Part 2 contains a poetic response for each apology. This layout might have some readers frustrated with the flipping back and forth between pages, but it does serve to create a high level of interaction with the text. The child-like and yet highly complex illustrations are a combination of mixed media that includes both computer graphics, wood, paper, and canvas.

The last poem of This is Just to Say exemplifies the work. “Ode to Slow-Hand” is expressive and purposeful with word choice. However, it is unique in that it is written from the whole group’s perspective. In it the class offers forgiveness to the anonymous student who admitted to stealing and then neglectfully killing the class lizard, Slow-Hand. Make the most of this poem’s special quality by reading the poem in a call and response format.

Ode to Slow-Hand

the way his heart beat in his throat
the way his toes whispered on our hands

los perdonamos

his skin: rough green cloth
the color of new leaves

los perdonamos

his belly: soft as an old balloon
his tongue: lightning's flicker

los perdonamos

the sad way he left us
the sad way you feel

los perdonamos
we forgive you

Introduce “Ode to Slow-Hand” by first reading “How Slow-Hand Lizard Died”.  After reading this anonymous poem of apology once or twice, ask students what they thought of the poem. List on the board the changes the main character went through. Ask the class to brainstorm how they think Mrs. Merz and the other students might have responded to the letter. Were they relieved to find out what happened, angry at his needless death, or sad for the person who carried the guilt? After this discussion, introduce “Ode to Slow-Hand”. Read the poem through several times and then invite students to participate in a call and response. One student (or the educator) can read the couplets and the class can respond with “los perdonamos” which means we forgive you in Spanish.