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In the poem “what i know now that i wish i knew then,” poet Amanda Lovelace teaches the audience that physical appearances do not define who a person is. In lines four through seven, the poet explains what fat means to the audience, “1. a descriptive word. / it has no deeper meaning. / it should not determine / the worth” (4-7). In this explanation, Lovelace suggests that the adjective fat does not mean anything, but instead is only a word that describes something. By including the words descriptive, deeper, and determine all together, Lovelace uses alliteration to convey the message your size shouldn’t determine how people treat you in an attention drawing way. In the first stanza, the poet introduces the word fat by defining what it means, “fat / /fat/ / adjective” (1-3). Lovelace set up this poem in a way that represents and looks like a dictionary. By defining fat in the format of a dictionary, the author helps to portray that fat is just a word. The title of this poem, “what i know now that i wish i knew then,” helps the poet to explain the effects of the poem. The poet chose this title to help inform others of what she would have wanted to know. The title can help readers know that it is important and could help the attitude of a person’s life if a person does not define their worth by their physical appearance.  In the poem “what i know now that i wish i knew then,” poet Amanda Lovelace gives her readers advice she wishes she would have known, such as a person’s physical appearance not defining their worth.

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In the poem “the sign you’ve been waiting for,” Amanda Lovelace stresses the importance of finding the good in bad situations and turning something negative to a positive experience. In the third stanza, Lovelace says to “take the / rot & decay / & turn it into / nourishment & life” (6-9).In those lines, the author encourages the reader to take in all of the bad and grow from it. In order to grow and mature, people must experience the worst and learn from it. The author also tells the reader to “grow a beautiful garden / from your aching / & teach yourself / how to thrive from it” (14-17).By writing this, Amanda Lovelace supports the idea of growing from your pain and making something beautiful from it. Lovelace also encourages readers to write their own story.  In the sixth stanza, Lovelace wants her writers to “write [their] story” (18). This moves people to take opportunities and create good experiences for themselves.  By seizing the day, people can create their dream life and flourish as people. Overall, Amanda Lovelace pushes readers to turn suffering into joy; finding the positive in dark times can encourage growth and maturity.

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In this poem, “the sign you’ve been waiting for”, poet Amanda Lovelace talks about growth and motivation in the form of an extended metaphor. “push your hands into the dirtiest parts of yourself” (Lovelace 2-5). Lovelace tells women that they need to dig down deep and work on the parts of themselves that maybe aren’t as good as the rest. “water it and sing to it and show it sunlight” (Lovelace 10-13). Lovelace uses repetition to show the importance of self-care. She wants to show the importance of mental health and taking care of your body. “grow beautiful garden from your aching and teach yourself how to thrive from it” (Lovelace 14-17). She is saying once you deserve to be happy in your own skin so don’t let anyone tell you that you need to look a certain way or be a certain size. Everyone is beautiful and they need to know that. Amanda Lovelace lets us know the importance of self-care and everyone deserves to happy.

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In the poem, the sign you’ve been waiting for by Amanda Lovelace, the theme of making your life your own radiates
throughout. She wrote, “write the story” (1). Lovelace believes that women should write their own story to their lives instead of letting someone else take that opportunity to manipulate it. The poem states that women need to “take the / rot & decay / & turn it into / nourishment & life” (8-11). Even when life is looking upside down, take the negativity and create positivity. With this pain, a woman may “grow a beautiful garden / from [her] aching / & teach [herself] / how to thrive from it” (18-21). Inside each woman is this dark, aching pain. From that she ought to change it for the good – make it into a beautiful garden and flourish. Women must gain control of their life instead of letting someone control it to form their version of the person.

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In the poem “what they don’t want you to know”, Amanda Lovelace describes the struggles all women go through, and how to overcome them. The author first mentions, “your thighs / will try to go together / like a mermaid’s tail” (4-6). Through this simile Amanda paints a positive visual of a mermaid’s tail in replace of large thighs, a common female insecurity. Lovelace then demands that we are “not just here / to be sexy for him” (14-15). This quote brings confidence to the poem, creating a positive outlook on relatable insecurities. Amanda ends the poem reminding the audience “the world begins / & ends / when you say so” (16-18). The final message delivered exemplifies the control over our lives Lovelace wants us to know we have. Overall, the poem shows the overcoming of struggles in a relatable way.

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In the poem “what i know now that i wish i knew then” poet Amanda Lovelace lets readers know that your physical appearance should not determine who you are.In the first line Lovelace mentions that the word fat is, “a descriptive word.” (1) In this quote, the poet is acknowledging the fact that the word “fat” is descriptive. We know that it is a very descriptive word because sometimes others will describe people with this word. Others use this word descriptively because as if it must define someone. In the second line the poet continues talking about the word “fat” and she reassures the reader that, “it has no deeper meaning.” (2) Here, Lovelace is letting it be known that this word does not have a hidden meaning. The word “fat” is just that, just a word. Next, the poet makes it clear that, “it should not determine / the worth / (or lack thereof) / of a human being.” (3-6) This shows that your physical appearance should not define who you are. There are so many more things that go into who you are, and what makes you your own self. Of all these things, none of them have anything to do with being fat or being called fat. In this poem Amanda Lovelace let’s her readers know that the word fat should not determine who you are as a person.

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In the poem “an ode to me,” poet Amanda Lovelace encourages her audience to speak up and be confident which is seen through metaphors. The poem begins with the lines, “i am / a lioness” (1-2). In this metaphor, Lovelace is showing that she can be loud and has a desire for people to hear what she has to say, relating to the voice of a lion. The thought of the sound a lion is normally a loud and startling sound, never a quiet sound. Next, Lovelace personifies herself as one “who is no longer / afraid to let the world / hear her” (3-5), showing her confidence. In this line, Lovelace expresses that she is proud of who she is, and she is not afraid to speak up for herself. She also shows her growth level of confidence. Lastly, Lovelace ends her poem with a meaningful word, “roar” (6). The word roar has so much meaning to it relating to this poem. Lions are not afraid to be loud and let out their voices, so Lovelace is showing the audience that she is not scared to hold back. Overall, by proclaiming upon her audience of how to be proud, she encourages us to not be afraid for who we are.

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In the poem “the sign you’ve been waiting for,” poet Amanda Lovelace encourages readers to dig deep into their emotions and pain and turn them into a great part of once self. By growing as people and realizing the power emotions have in a person and how much growth and change it can give a person. In the fourth stanza the speaker says “grow a beautiful garden from your aching & teach yourself how to thrive from it”(14). In this comparison, Lovelace explains

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In the poem, “what i know now that i wish i knew then,” poet Amanda Lovelace informs the audience that a person’s size should not determine their worth. Lovelace begins by expressing, “a descriptive word. /it has no deeper meaning,” (4-5). These lines indicate that being described a certain way by others does not determine who you truly are deep down. These lines also contain alliteration because she repetitively uses the letter “d”. In lines six and seven Lovelace continues to state, “it should not determine/the worth.” (6-7). This quote explains that no matter the size of a person, it should not determine how a person treats them. Lastly, she announces, “(or lack thereof)/ of a human being,” (8-9). This explains that an adjective that someone describes you as does not make you any less human. Overall, Lovelace points out that your size does not define who you are.

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In the poem, “what i know now that i wish i knew then,” poet Amanda Lovelace informs the audience that a person’s size should not determine their worth. Lovelace begins by expressing, “a descriptive word. /it has no deeper meaning,” (4-5). These lines indicate that being described a certain way by others does not determine who you truly are deep down. These lines also contain alliteration because she repetitively uses the letter “d”. In lines six and seven Lovelace continues to state, “it should not determine/the worth.” (6-7). This quote explains that no matter the size of a person, it should not determine how a person treats them. Lastly, she announces, “(or lack thereof)/ of a human being,” (8-9). This explains that an adjective that someone describes you as does not make you any less human. Overall, Lovelace points out that your size does not define who you are.

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In the poem,” what I know now that I wish I knew then” poet Amanda Lovelace is explaining how you shouldn’t let people determine your worth.  In stanzas 1-2, Lovelace writes, “a descriptive word. / it has no deeper meaning.”(1-2) Throughout this poem Lovelace is explaining to us that being called “fat” does not mean we are any lower than others. She states it ahs no deeper meaning, that it is just a word. In the following stanza Lovelace urges her readers, “It should not determine/ the worth/ (or lack thereof) / of a human being.” (3-6) The word “fat” does not determine how we should feel about ourselves. A word should not determine if you are worthless or not. Lovelace uses end-stop to emphasize the importance of her words in her poem. By using end-stop it is showing that Lovelace is making a firm point about how being called such word should have no worth in your mind. You should feel good about your body. Overall Amanda Lovelace proves that body image should not determine a person worth.

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In the poem “fat”, poet Amanda Lovelace implies one’s worth is not based upon your physical attributes. Lovelace begins the poem with a definition style set up only including the words “fat /fat/ adjective” (1-3). Through understanding Lovelace’s intentions, she wants the readers to see “fat" as book definition and not a personal definition. In the first stanza, the speaker describes the word fat as “a descriptive word. / it has no deeper meaning. /it should not determine the worth (or lack thereof) of a human being” (4-9).  Throughout this metaphorical definition, Lovelace tries to emphasize that one word cannot determine one’s true beauty. Thus, it shows the readers that knowing one’s own worth should be enough. Lovelace ends the poem stating, “what I know now that I wish I knew then” (10). This quote not only revels to the reader about Lovelace’s old insecurity, but now reveals to the audience that she is more confident. Overall, Lovelace encourages readers to love who they are in their own skin instead of trying to base themselves off a textbook definition.

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In the poem “what they don’t want you to know”, poet Amanda Lovelace shows the readers how to be confident by remembering personality means more than looks. The poet describes how a person looks, “your hips – will try to burst – through your skin” (1-3). Amanda explains to the readers how people normally look because the world always says what you should look like. She does this to give the reader confidence in their own skin. In lines 13-15 Amanda explains how you are not meant to be used, “no, you are – not just here to be – sexy for him” (13-15). The poet teaches the readers that they are more then just an object and are wort more than getting used. Knowing your more than just an object can give you confidence to know your worth. Amanda expresses how we have control, “when you say so” (18). The poet explains how you are in control and should not be taken for granted. Being in control can give the reader more confidence to do what they want. Amanda Lovelace shows ways that you should feel confident in your own skin by explaining how personality means more than looks.

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In the poem “what i know now that i wish i knew then,” poet Amanda Lovelace engages her audience by using metaphors to discuss a topic that most women struggle with in their life. In the first line, the speaker refers to fat as “a descriptive word” (1). Lovelace uses this terminology to demonstrate that fat is just a word; one single adjective does not determine someone’s self-worth. Thus, she encourages us to put the hurtful comments and actions from others behind us to achieve self-acceptance. Lovelace says, “it has no deeper meaning…of a human being”, by saying this she encourages her audience to get past the superficial comments that can tear down a person’s self-esteem. In these quotes Lovelace uses rhyme to represent the constant negative comments one can receive and how they bring someone down. Rather than dwell on the negative, focus on the positive! Lovelace also proposes that “it should not determine/the worth”. This quote signifies that your worth is not based on one’s physical attributes or appearance. People are so much more than the exterior that holds them together. Overall, by impressing upon her audience that unkind remarks over a persons appearance. Lovelace implies through out the poem that she, too, was insecure but has found a way to overcome the comments.