It strikes me as mischievous. Not only has he/she eaten the plums, they rub it in by describing how nice they were. Makes 'forgive me' sound a bit hollow!
It seems sweet to me like he’s saying it to a loved one who maybe would’ve liked to enjoyed the plums themselves but will be happy to hear that HE enjoyed them. It’s intimate
You make an assumption it is a note for her since it was written by someone male? It could have easily been from a man to another man, or even from a woman to another woman or man. I'm not trying to be the gender police, but as poet and male, just because I use a first person doesn't mean it's necessarily "I" who is speaking.
Okay. But the state of his relationship to his wife and how he historically always wrote from his own perspective of life, it’s hard to not interpret the way I did. We are both right I guess.
Oh this one is cute. The way he writes it with breaking the lines short makes it seem like he’s a bit guilty. Feels like a short pleasure that he didn’t intend to eat them. Haha
When I read the last stanza I am drawn to the sensation that the words “sweet” and “cold”bring me, I like to imagine the speaker is reliving a hot summer he had once shared with his lover eating plums. And the “forgive me” feels so soft because the memory is the gift not whoever ate the plums.
Why did the writer eat the plums if the writer knew that the partner wanted them for breakfast? It is a little bit of a selfish action. Why didn’t the writer save them to enjoy together?
Oh I love it. I first heard this poem...lets' say it was a long time ago, and whatever I lived back then, obviously painted its possible meaning for me.
To me, it's about saying good-bye. After one gets from a person whatever they need. Some explanation about what they took, and why, and now that fridge is partially empty, but didn't it make whoever took the plums, partially full?
Hello Poetry Dude, it's Keenan from True World!!! I think we might have some interests in common. I write Greek Tragedy, and essays from a historical perspective. I will check out your page, and if you have time, you're welcome to visit True World…
Someone commented it was the husband desiring his wife's plums. I think it's presumptive to necessarily think it has to be a hetero couple, why not think broader and day they might be gay or two lesbian or a bi and gay. Lots of combination. She reasoned you often have poems featuring you anf your wife but I don't think that assumption works with sweetly tender poem. At Yale it was to look for deep mesning6including the poets emotional and psychological issues. As Freud said, "Sometimes it's just a cigar," and not an oral fixation. I think this poem doesn't have a second interpretation, read it for what it is, enjoy it, let it make you happy and satisfied. Anyway I had to see this poem dissected to find a hidden meaning. Sometimes an apple is just an apple. Sand with this baggy poem.
It strikes me as mischievous. Not only has he/she eaten the plums, they rub it in by describing how nice they were. Makes 'forgive me' sound a bit hollow!
It seems sweet to me like he’s saying it to a loved one who maybe would’ve liked to enjoyed the plums themselves but will be happy to hear that HE enjoyed them. It’s intimate
After reading the comments…
I feel like I felt it differently.
I think he’s describing her. She’s so sweet and cold. And he’s saying sorry for consuming it.
You make an assumption it is a note for her since it was written by someone male? It could have easily been from a man to another man, or even from a woman to another woman or man. I'm not trying to be the gender police, but as poet and male, just because I use a first person doesn't mean it's necessarily "I" who is speaking.
Okay. But the state of his relationship to his wife and how he historically always wrote from his own perspective of life, it’s hard to not interpret the way I did. We are both right I guess.
Fair enough 😎
i love this poem beyond words. so simple and yet it effortlessly encapsulates so much emotion! truly a beautiful specimen
Oh this one is cute. The way he writes it with breaking the lines short makes it seem like he’s a bit guilty. Feels like a short pleasure that he didn’t intend to eat them. Haha
When I read the last stanza I am drawn to the sensation that the words “sweet” and “cold”bring me, I like to imagine the speaker is reliving a hot summer he had once shared with his lover eating plums. And the “forgive me” feels so soft because the memory is the gift not whoever ate the plums.
So much meaning can be discovered in so few words. Beautiful.
Why did the writer eat the plums if the writer knew that the partner wanted them for breakfast? It is a little bit of a selfish action. Why didn’t the writer save them to enjoy together?
SHORT and sweet as plums. Published poet. Reminds me of my poem "At the Shore." Lawrence Elliott
Oh I love it. I first heard this poem...lets' say it was a long time ago, and whatever I lived back then, obviously painted its possible meaning for me.
To me, it's about saying good-bye. After one gets from a person whatever they need. Some explanation about what they took, and why, and now that fridge is partially empty, but didn't it make whoever took the plums, partially full?
Hello Poetry Dude, it's Keenan from True World!!! I think we might have some interests in common. I write Greek Tragedy, and essays from a historical perspective. I will check out your page, and if you have time, you're welcome to visit True World…
I’ve always adored this poem.
Someone commented it was the husband desiring his wife's plums. I think it's presumptive to necessarily think it has to be a hetero couple, why not think broader and day they might be gay or two lesbian or a bi and gay. Lots of combination. She reasoned you often have poems featuring you anf your wife but I don't think that assumption works with sweetly tender poem. At Yale it was to look for deep mesning6including the poets emotional and psychological issues. As Freud said, "Sometimes it's just a cigar," and not an oral fixation. I think this poem doesn't have a second interpretation, read it for what it is, enjoy it, let it make you happy and satisfied. Anyway I had to see this poem dissected to find a hidden meaning. Sometimes an apple is just an apple. Sand with this baggy poem.