Language 1: This Is Just to Say

This poem's simplicity goes a long way. The author, who is unknown to us, uses very simple diction to show an apologetic mood. The crispness of the diction and syntax goes further to show the youthfulness of the speaker. The language in this poem gives the reader a sense of a small child apologizing for something that isn't that big of a mistake. The child asks the person he/she is talking to, to "forgive" him for something he/she has done.
The language also conveys a sense of urgency and fear within the speaker. The sense of a rushing of words is displayed through the syntax. Every line seems to have two to three words, which is very short. The poet also uses the title to show the simplistic style of the poem. "This" in "This Is Just to Say" is very vague. So vague that only a child would say this. Without the syntax and simple diction, the reader wouldn't get this feeling of a child's asking of an apology.