Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey is a collection of compelling poems sectioned into four chapters: the hurting, the loving, the breaking, and the healing. The assortment of poems exposes the author's emotions as she reflects on loss, love, heartbreak, feminism, and healing. It is difficult to formulate a summary that illustrates the authenticity and power of the book. I recommend reading Milk and Honey, because it is relatable and captivating.
I have included a few of my favorite poems by Kaur.
From the hurting:
emptying out of my mothers belly was
my very first act of disappearance
learning to shrink for a family who
likes their daughters invisible
was the second
the art of being empty is simple
believe them when they say
you are nothing
repeat it to yourself
like a wish
i am nothing
i am nothing
i am nothing so often
the only reason you
know you’re still alive is
from the heaving
of your chest
-the art of being empty
The poem offers a description of feeling empty that I have never been able to express in words. It is easy to encounter individuals who make us feel as though we are nothing. Reading Kaur's interpretation of emptiness is healing, because there is a form of restoration that comes through reading your raw emotions in written form.
From the breaking:
The way they leave tells you everything
The simple poem serves as a reminder to recall a person's method of leaving when deciding if they are worthy of reentering our lives. It is challenging to separate passion and reality when an individual asks to reestablish a lost relationship. A person's means of coming and going is incredibly telling as to how they value and respect you.
From the healing:
accept that you deserve more
than painful love
life is moving
the healthiest thing
for your heart is
to move with it
It is difficult to recognize that you deserve more. It takes a while to accept the truth. When you finally realize your potential, you have opened a slew of wonderful opportunities to meet an individual who will positively impact your life. When this finally happens, there is nothing more exhilarating and life-altering.
I hope you find yourself fascinated by Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey.
