Three Drafts of a Reply

Deanna Kern Ludwin

About the Author

Draft #1

Dear Bill---

You've disappointed me.
Those plums—I had been saving them,
in case you didn't know,
for lunch—
waiting for them to ripen.
How can you be so thoughtless!
I'm not so sure
I can forgive you.

Draft #2

I want you to know

I have never been
so furious! How could
you eat the plums
you knew I'd ripened
all week long—
my one sweet pleasure—
with you out making housecalls,
saving lives and such.

Damn it, Bill! I want my plums.

Final Draft

I Just Have to Say

You have eaten
my plums
one time
too often

You knew
I'd been ripening them
all week
for tasting

Forgive me
if I'm resentful
so tart
and so cold

©Copyright Deanna K. Ludwin