Baths
In "Plenty," the speaker remembers her impoverished childhood. One of her memories is the fact that her family could not afford the water to run a full bath. As such, for her baths represent a luxury and a reminder of what she didn't have growing up. Later in the poem, she feels guilty as she has a bubble bath, remembering that this once would have been out of the question.
Mother's smile
The speaker of "Plenty" also remembers her mother's smile in detail. She remembers that there was a hint of pain and anger behind her smile: "Her lips stretched back and anchored down, in anger at some fault." Here, her mother's heavy smile is a symbol of the stress and emotional anguish caused by her living situation.
Childhood
Childhood is a key motif and can be seen in many of Dixon's poems. She is heavily inspired by her upbringing, and the poverty her family experienced. Despite this, she also remembers happier times with her family spending time together and making memories.
Dessert
In "April Incense," Dixon remembers happy memories from her childhood. In particular, she remembers her Aunt bringing around dessert, which smelled and tasted beautiful: "that scent of heaven, pudding." Overall, this symbolizes the carefree happiness of childhood and the persistence of sensory memories long into adulthood.
Mother's dress
In "My Mother's Dress," Dixon writes about the rare occurrence of her father buying her mother a brand new dress. This dress ultimately symbolizes how her family struggled financially, as a new dress was a huge shock to everyone.
