Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams by Kenneth Koch
I was leafing through The Collected Poems of Kenneth Koch, and I laughed out loud at today’s selection. I was immediately reminded of a pair of poems I previously posted. Amusingly enough, one of my poetry pals had chosen another William Carlos Williams poem to read on Saturday (which I’ll share tomorrow), but she also read This Is Just To Say. This prompted me to mention the Erica-Lynn Gambino “tribute” and then read Kenneth Koch’s offerings. We all had a good laugh.
Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams
By Kenneth Koch
1
I chopped down the house that you had been saving to live in next summer.
I am sorry, but it was morning, and I had nothing to do
and its wooden beams were so inviting.
2
We laughed at the hollyhocks together
and then I sprayed them with lye.
Forgive me. I simply do not know what I am doing.
3
I gave away the money that you had been saving to live on for the next ten years.
The man who asked for it was shabby
and the firm March wind on the porch was so juicy and cold.
4
Last evening we went dancing and I broke your leg.
Forgive me. I was clumsy, and
I wanted you here in the wards, where I am the doctor!
