What is the theme of "This Is Just to Say" by Williams Carlos Williams?

“This Is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams
encourages interpretations. When asked about the poem, the poet referred to the meter of
the poem rather than its meaning.  The poet was a part-time writer and a full time
doctor.  He wrote at night when he had time. 

“I forgive
you” is the reaction that the poem wants to elicit from the reader.  Possibly, the poet
is asking for forgiveness for more than just the
plums. 

The setting for the poem is the kitchen.  The
narrator has done something wrong, so he wrote a note to be left on the refrigerator to
apologize.  The two people may use the front of the “fridge” as the message center for
the home.  These little everyday things like eating someone else’s fruit and giving a
rather unusual apology contribute to the fun of life. 

The
poem was written in 1934. One of the words dates the poem: the icebox which was an early
refrigerator. The icebox is exactly like what it sounds. It was a box with ice in it. 
It was like an ice chest today. The reader does not know if this is a more sophisticated
electric refrigerator or an actual ice box.  In this time period, it could have been
either one.
 

Theme

The
theme of the poem is choices.  The narrator had a choice to make. He knew what was right
and wrong.  The fruit did not belong to him.  It was not his to eat.  The choice is
obvious—follow his conscience.  If there were an understanding about the fruit, this
would be a different matter.  Obviously, he feels guilt and the need to tell her why he
ate them.

         Forgive
me

they were
delicious

so sweet

and so
cold.

Remember also for every
action there is a consequence.  The speaker may be expecting some kind of reaction from
his decision that can be better managed with an
apology. 

Summary

The
poet has committed a “plum crime” and leaves a note on the icebox apologizing for eating
the plums belonging to the other person. May be it was late at night, and the doctor was
hungry, and the poet wrote the apology.    

The two people
in the poem may have different schedules. The doctor may have come in late from
something about his medical practice, or he may have been writing late at night which he
often did. He does not expect to see this person until after she comes for her
breakfast. It is a sensitive step on the part of the poet to ask forgiveness.  It shows
a deep regard for the other person’s feelings.  He enjoyed the plums.  Sadly, she will
not have this pleasant experience.

On the other hand, he
then jumps into rubbing it in a bit about how good the plums were.  Possibly, this is a
joke between the two people.  His tone may have a touch of sarcasm, or humor by pointing
out what she is going to miss when she has her breakfast.
 

He may need to justify his crime by telling her that he
could not resist eating them.  It is doubtful that he is trying to give her a vicarious
experience by describing the luscious fruit in which she is going to miss
out.

 It is also possible that he is really not sorry at
all.  He does not beg her forgiveness. His imperative tone does not illicit any strong
feels of guilt; he rather orders her to forgive him.  

This
is the beauty of poetry.  The reader can understand the words of a poem, their meanings,
and possibilities.  It is his responsibility to decide for himself the flavor of the
poem.