Peace

Chapter 03: Easy

Bright massages his temple for countless times already in his last class of the day, Contemporary Literature. They have been analyzing a million (note the hyperbole) poems as practice and it seems like there is no pause button at all in Professor Alice Tsoi. She's unstoppable. Bright glances at First and Toy, who are sitting on his left side. Their eyebrows are knitted in maximum concentration while they are writing in their respective notebook. He involuntarily chuckles at their expressions.

"Care to share the funny bits in this poem, Mr. Chiva-aree?" Professor Alice asks, causing Bright to startle for being called out. First and Toy with curiosity turn their heads to their friend at the same time.

Bright gulps before standing up. "Which poem, khrab, prof?" He questions, unconsciously scratching his nape.

"You've been in wonderland, I see. There, I've just displayed a new poem for you to ponder upon ten minutes ago," the professor points to the projector screen over her shoulder. Bright's gaze moves to the screen in front of the whiteboard and he notices a new poem that they have to analyse.

First and Toy are already snickering at him, cupping their mouths in sync when their laughter gets a little loud. Their classmates seem unbothered as they are busy searching for some possible analysis of the poem. "Do you have your analysis now, young man?" Professor Alice gives him a challenging look.

Bright skims the poem. In just seconds, he recognizes the simple but also great masterpiece written by William Carlos Williams.

This Is Just to Say

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

Bright has always liked Williams' imagism. He takes a deep breath and nods at his professor. "Okay, prof. I have the analysis now," he confirms.

"Class, let's listen to what Mr. Chiva-aree has to say about this poem. Focus," Professor Alice claps her hands thrice to get everybody's attention. All students are now looking at Bright, waiting for him to speak.

"At first glance, the words that the speaker uses are rather straightforward, ordinary and direct rather than grand and figurative. It is simply a poem about him trying to apologize to someone for eating the plums in the icebox. However, we're learning literature here and literature people don't just leave the analysis as shallow as this, do we?" Bright lightly jokes. The room erupts in laughter, remembering a viral TikTok of a guy who tried to analyze the sentence, 'John ate spaghetti for lunch.'

Professor Alice can't help but chuckle too at him.

"In my opinion, I think the plums represent a person. If we see the first stanza, the plums were kept securely in the icebox. In my interpretation, they were kept there to preserve their freshness. So, the person that represents the plums is basically protected well by someone and, in my mind, by maybe... a lover.

Next, the second stanza talks about the possible reason of the plums being saved in the icebox which was for breakfast. I think keeping the freshness of the plums is important for a great breakfast. The same thing goes with keeping your lover protected. I think it's a good thing to do in a relationship. It's also one of the things you are prone to do because, obviously, you commit to each other when you're in one.

Now, the last stanza is a bit confusing for me. The speaker asks for forgiveness from the person he's addressing to because he ate the plums that were delicious, sweet and cold. I think of this as unfaithfulness in a relationship.