Rupi Kaur has slowly but surely become a soft spoken but overwhelmingly relevant voice behind this millennial age. She has written two poetry books, “milk and honey” and “the sun and her flowers”—both were quickly consumed by an eager audience of young girls everywhere. Kaur’s style contains everything these young girls do not have the strength to say, as well as what they have longed to hear. Since her topics range from self-love, heartbreak, identity and even familial ties, her writing thus aptly reaches many different kinds of hopeful people. As a guide, here are a couple reasons to give her a much deserved read.
She reminds us of what we forget
“What is stronger than the human heart which shatters over and over and still lives,” milk and honey says.
Her poetry may be short, like the one line above, but poetry does not necessitate big words or lengthy sentences in order to strike someone’s core. Here, she finds a gentle way to address things that indeed remain quite mind-blowing. Humanity often suffers heartbreak of all kinds, whether it be intense sadness from being left by the love of your life, or losing a best friend in a car accident. Human hearts appear fragile and easy to puncture, in this sweet ode we see the much needed attention paid to the fact that despite tumultuous circumstances, our hearts warrant stronger than they appear.
“It was when I stopped searching for home within others and lifted the foundations of home within myself, I found there were no roots more intimate than those between a mind and body that have decided to be whole,” milk and honey says.
Refreshingly raw
People have a way of searching everywhere but themselves to help them feel whole. We search and search for anything outside of ourselves to make us feel, love and learn, but we do not take a long look at what stays hidden inside, because quite frankly it can terrify us. The process of undergoing self-reflection in order to reach self-knowledge can be incredibly daunting, even if done correctly, so the easiest route may be to just seek out what we need from other people. Besides God, no one can fulfill us and know us in the same way we know ourselves. Kaur reminds us that when you unite your beautiful mind with a complex body, only growth occurs.
“I tremble at the thought of falling in love with a tiny part of someone and mistaking it for the whole,” milk and honey says.
Like the quote illuminates, Kaur has a vital talent for deeply connecting with the uncomfortable questions no one really wants to think about. Ultimately thinking about the self proves rather unpleasant, and nobody wants any more discomfort in their life. As much as she unearths our inner needs for a deep search within ourselves, she also sifts through a vibrant world of emotions. Emotions usually get put away for another time, a better time when we feel less busy and cluttered. Kaur reminds us that in order to love ourselves well we must know ourselves well. We must listen to the cryings, longings and askings of our hearts. Poetry has a definite path to those things, so if you want a shortcut through this tedious process of self-knowledge, read hers.
