My, my.. at first I giggled with the beautiful style in words you have used.

But then, when I reached the end, I felt like... sad.

I'm fat. Not proud of it. But I am.

I agree with Lebanese...this is sad to mock somebody for their appearance. I dont know how this got into the contest nominations.

After reading this a few times, I think I understand what you were trying to convey. I don't think you wrote it mockingly, it seemed to come from a child's perspective and i know how brutally honest kids can be. It was very well written and conveyed alot of emotion.
I'm big but I didn't take offense and I actually really liked the poem.

I'm cracking up at the nominations comment. I thought this poem was briliiant. It's called metaphors. I see it riddled all over the poem. Not once did I take this poem for face value, and even if I did, ot would.make sense. The way it sounded was Miss King is a nun (crucifix comment made me think that way), in which case she wouldnt be able to marry. She has devoted her self and life to God. Not that she's a whale and can't get married because of it. Sheeesh.

Sorry for the semi rant, Abby. I love this poem, and love that I interpret it so many ways. That's just good poetry ;)

Yeah, I'm with Britt, though I didn't see the nun possibility initially. I thought this poem was a really honest and sensitive portrait of this lady. Clearly the author was not saying "No one should marry her because she's fat." Rather, it draws attention to the fact that this is what many observers (including children) might see. The poem is real, and shows that realness with great language and attention.

Apart from that, even, the poem completely owns. It's powerful and funny and lovely and honest. It's one of the best poems I've read on here (or anywhere) for a good while. Read this and tell me you can't imagine it showing up in a literary journal.

Not only does it deserve to be nominated, it deserves to win.

Have to agree with Britt and Sibyllene here. If this isn't excellent poetry, I don't know what is! An honest, animated depiction of a woman that seems to jump right out of the page... Love the style/wording.

Good job, Abs.

Obviously this poem is open for interpretation and will affect each person who reads it differently. I do see it as creatively challenging and concede that you have the right to write on whatever topic you please. I simply felt that to mock someone on their appearance and then be nominated for it was something that I myself dont agree with. I am not a big person myself but I have always been and advocate for the underdog... so saying this was just my humble opinion on this poem.

THis poem made me think of Garth Merenghi's darkplace intro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j27ekd0dJA

I thank everyone here for their comments. I find it interesting to find all sorts of positive and negative and in-between opinions on this poem. I am heartily open to further discussion here, and invite others to contribute to the following topic:

Is a poem about a single woman, that appears to focus superficial light on her obesity, an appropriate one to represent our site on the front page? Why or why not?

Great amazing poem,,,i loved reading it :)

It is interesting all the different interpretations of this poem and opinions. After reading this several times, I gathered an interesting perspective and life lesson on it. The colloquialism 'it isn't over until the fat lady sings' which obviously means 'it isn't over til it's over', I thought this was incorporated quite nicely whether you even intended to do so or meant this with your poem. This is by no means your typical poem, and I love that because it keeps you guessing. Well done!

I think this might be one of my favorite poems on this site. It tells the tale (real or unreal) of the life of a woman. You create a vivid picture for me of this lady. It's funny and sad all in the same. well done!! 5/5

I LOVE This Poem!
I Dont Think It's Misleading At All.
I Seen The Message You Were Trying To Show..
And I Think It Deserves To Be Nominated:)
Jessi
5/5 :)

I love this piece!:)

That is such a cruel thing to write.You don't think anyone is going to marry her because of her weight!?Well I have news for you!Plenty of women I know who are big have married,and are happily married for many years.

Okay,okay... Tell miss king I want to marry her.

A fun read. I think about it.

What's great about poetry is that the writer can say, "screw political correctness" and write about any subject they want, and the reader can like it or not.

What's great about this poem is that you've written it in three dimensions... the entire scene seems to pop out of my computer screen, like one of those pop-up books we read as a child.

You've also, in a very few lines, given this woman a past, a present, and a future.

I like the contradiction between the the song lyrics:
"All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small..."
and the harsh ending, "and no one is going to marry her,
no one at all."

It's as if she wants to believe those happy lyrics, but her tears betray her true feelings. And then the narrator hits her with the cold, hard facts of life at the end.

A well deserved win!

Reading every comment for this poem has got me thinking, How good can a writer be in sending a message through their poem.
The message here or the story behind writing this has got me very curious
Abbz, care to explain to me exactly what was going through your mind? i'm really dazzled

What I love about your poems and this one in particular is that it's very easy to spot and sense the honesty in your words, Whether it's a Rl related situation, or a story from your pure imagination.
you my friend are truly blessed
5/5
one of a kind.

Refreshing