Rupi Kaur became one of my favorite poets from the moment I read these words from her 2014 book entitled Milk and Honey. When she started out sharing her poetry to the world she was met with many rejection letters, but took to the internet and social media to create a name for herself. When her followers started inquiring on purchasing a book of her work she self-published a collection of her poetry and prose on Amazon. The book sold over 2.5 million copies and was on the New York Best Sellers list for 77 weeks.
Her collection in this first book is divided into 4 chapters-
“the hurting”
“the loving”
“the breaking”
“the healing”
She uses her words that are raw and powerful in an unconventional manner that shows you the vulnerability of her soul and she beautifully shares in all the true heart felt aspects of being a woman. Sentiments shared in the embrace of the sweetness of love, the struggles of abuse, the sadness of heart break, expressing the sexuality of your true self, and realizing one’s value despite the brokenness that one might have endured offers the connection of femininity. I keep this poem displayed in my room. It reminds me that when I look at another woman as I speak to her to keep these words in my head. Not that it is not heart- warming to be told we are pretty, but to be able to see someone on the inside…to find out their goals, to hear their accomplishments, feel their fears, share in their love and passions… is where the real beauty shines through. We are so much more.