Summary

Breanna Lowman's personal journey from shame to pride over her tendency to blush intensely during exercise is recounted in her poem, which is inspired by a childhood incident and a transformative comment received while living in China.

Abstract

In her poem "You Look Like a Tomato," Breanna Lowman reflects on the impact of a casual remark made by her middle school teacher, who compared her flushed face after running to a tomato. This comment, which was meant to be humorous, led Lowman to feel embarrassed and self-conscious about her appearance when exercising. As a result, she avoided running for many years. However, while living abroad in China, she rediscovered her love for running and received a compliment about her rosy cheeks, which reframed her perspective on the physical manifestation of her hard work. This positive feedback helped her overcome the shame she had felt for years, allowing her to embrace the redness in her cheeks as a symbol of success and vitality. Lowman's poem concludes with a message of self-acceptance and encourages others to see the beauty in their uniqueness.

Opinions

The author initially internalized a negative comment about her appearance during exercise, which led to years of avoiding physical activity.
A comment from a friend in China reframed the author's perception of her flushed cheeks, transforming the blushing from a symbol of shame to one of success and good health.
The author encourages a shift in perspective, suggesting that what might be perceived as a flaw can actually be a feature to be proud of.
Lowman acknowledges the power of words, emphasizing that comments can either wound or uplift, and calls for a more loving and affirming use of language.
The poem is a call to recognize and appreciate the visible signs of effort and exertion, advocating for self-acceptance and the celebration of one's natural responses to exercise.

You Look Like a Tomato

I remember the first time I ran a timed mile It was in middle school And I ran like the wind

6 minutes 14 seconds First in the whole class Hot and sweaty and proud My face beamed with joy

I got to my next class Feeling good about myself Until my teacher cast out words That changed my life

“You look like a tomato!” My teacher said And the students laughed Along with her

A seemingly innocent comment Splintered into my teenage mind The start of believing Something is wrong with me So I told myself:

Don’t try so hard next time Take it down a notch Do everything you can To hide the color of red That can’t seem to help But bleed through The skin of your cheeks

But no matter how I ran How slow or how fast In the heat or in the cool My cheeks would blush And a tomato I would become

The red of my face Became the face of failure The face of shame The face of defeat

I stopped running.

Years and years later While living abroad in China I started running again

It was then that I received A beautiful and unexpected gift A redeeming comment That washed away the wound

I had just gotten back from a long run And I was red Yes, I looked like a tomato My friend saw me and said:

Wow your face is amazing! You have such good circulation! My face never changes color!

A different perspective I had never thought of before Because I was blinded by the shame That the past had contained

But now I proudly claim:

I am not ashamed to look like a tomato!

When you see the red in my cheeks I want you to know This is the face of success This is the face of hard work This is a face worthy to be seen

Yes, I look like a tomato Thank you for noticing.

Breanna Lowman 2020

I was inspired to publish this poem after reading the following piece by John Ross. Check it out!

The True Story of Sticks and Stones

Poetry

medium.com

Our words matter. They can bring life or death, healing or wounding. May we walk in love and speak in love. ❤