Forgive me they tasted the same so thin and so savory
Today’s slice of life story (poem) was inspired by “This Is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams, as well as Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems by Gail Carson Levine and Matthew Cordell.
Head over to Two Writing Teachers for more slice of life stories.
I am a literacy consultant who focuses on writing workshop. I've been working with K-6 teachers and students since 2009. Prior to that, I was a fourth and fifth-grade teacher in New York City and Rhode Island.
I'm the author of Craft Moves (Stenhouse Publishers, 2016) and the co-author of Jump Into Writing (Zaner-Bloser, 2021), Welcome to Writing Workshop (Stenhouse Publishers, 2019), and Day By Day (Stenhouse, 2010).
I live in Central Pennsylvania with my husband and children. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, doing Pilates, cooking, baking, making ice cream, and reading novels.
View all posts by Stacey Shubitz
22 thoughts on “Haricots Verts et Haricots Jaunes”
You are very daring – mixing two color beans together. That would certainly have been rejected by at least one member of my family. I love the imitation of William Carlos Williams. Great beginning!
This sounds/looks so much like dinner at my house! My son is doing a poetry unit in 5th grade and has decided he only like humorous poems. I’ll have to introduce him to these false-apology poems and see what he thinks.
This is the best type of writing, the most gratifying writing, a piece that seems to download from the heavens, into our brain, down our arm, through our hand and onto a page.
Oh, how perfectly this picture and poem hold hands! The things we do to prepare healthy meals….mixing beans….and the reactions we get! What a great, simple way to slice the moment.
Wow! I can’t believe it!! I bet that’s gonna be hard for you.
Oh this is just too fun to read! Plus the photo of him reject those beans! I’ve never read this book but what playful craft a false apology can be. Love this!
I had my daughter read the original poem for her weekly fluency/poem practice a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps she’ll have to write some of her own soon!
Raising Literate Humans 
You are very daring – mixing two color beans together. That would certainly have been rejected by at least one member of my family. I love the imitation of William Carlos Williams. Great beginning!
This one was on Marc! He bought both at the store on Sunday in an effort to spice things up. That he did!
😂😂😂
This sounds/looks so much like dinner at my house! My son is doing a poetry unit in 5th grade and has decided he only like humorous poems. I’ll have to introduce him to these false-apology poems and see what he thinks.
It’s such a great book. There’s another one by Joyce Sidman that includes poems of apology and forgiveness in a similar format.
A delicious bite sized slice.
Who knew that beans could inspire a poem?
I never would’ve thought of finding a piece of writing like this! Yet, the slice manifested itself.
This is the best type of writing, the most gratifying writing, a piece that seems to download from the heavens, into our brain, down our arm, through our hand and onto a page.
Oh, how perfectly this picture and poem hold hands! The things we do to prepare healthy meals….mixing beans….and the reactions we get! What a great, simple way to slice the moment.
As simple as the poem was, it was challenging to write! I am out of practice with poetry!
I LOVE that book and always share poems from it with my class and your false apology poem is so mom. The things our kids take as personal insults!
Ari used to be my better eater. Lately, we can never predict what he’ll eat.
Oh, mom! How dare you!? Ha, ha!
I know, right?!
I love false apology poems! I love teaching them even more. 🙂 Also..how is he so big already?!?
He’s going to Kindergarten this fall! 😳
I’m already feeling all the feels with that transition.
Wow! I can’t believe it!! I bet that’s gonna be hard for you.
Oh this is just too fun to read! Plus the photo of him reject those beans! I’ve never read this book but what playful craft a false apology can be. Love this!
Check out the book! I think you and your boys would enjoy reading it.
I love having my students write from this poem. They are so much fun to read.
I had my daughter read the original poem for her weekly fluency/poem practice a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps she’ll have to write some of her own soon!
How dare you mix vegetables in such ways? You, my dear, are an atrocity.