Milk and Honey- Rupi Kaur

Ratings: 4.5/5⭐
Genre: Poetry
Number of Pages: 204
Format: ebook
Publication Date: 4th November 2014
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

About Milk and Honey

Milk and Honey

Milk and Honey, written by Rupi Kaur, is a collection of poems that have touched the hearts of readers all over the world. As I sat down to read this book, I was struck by the rawness and honesty that Kaur brings to her work. Each poem is a window into the author’s soul, giving readers a glimpse into her personal experiences with love, loss, trauma, and healing.

One of the things I appreciate about Milk and Honey is its accessibility. The language is simple and straightforward, but the emotions conveyed are complex and profound. Kaur has a way of distilling her experiences into concise, powerful phrases that stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. 

For instance, in the poem “the hurting,” she writes: 

“you tell me to quiet down cause 

my opinions make me less beautiful 

but I was not made with a fire in my belly 

so I could be put out

I was not made with a lightness on my tongue 

so it could be easy to swallow 

I was made heavy 

half blade and half silk 

difficult to forget and not easy 

for the mind to follow.”

The poems in Milk and Honey are divided into four sections: the hurting, the loving, the breaking, and the healing. Each section explores a different aspect of Kaur’s journey, from the pain of being hurt to the joy of healing and finding love again. The poems in the “loving” section are particularly beautiful, capturing the warmth and tenderness of a new relationship. 

In the poem “the type,” Kaur writes: 

“if you are not enough for yourself 

you will never be enough 

for someone else.” 

These words struck a chord with me, reminding me of the importance of self-love and self-care in any relationship.

One of the most powerful aspects of Milk and Honey is how it speaks to women’s experiences with trauma and abuse. Kaur shares her own experiences with sexual assault and domestic violence, and her poems give voice to the pain and struggle of survivors. 

In the poem “the survivor,” Kaur writes: “You have been taught your legs are a pit stop for men that need a place to rest a vacant body empty enough for guests but no one ever comes and is willing to stay.”

Milk and Honey is a powerful and thought-provoking book that speaks to the human experience in a profound way. Kaur’s words are a reminder that healing is possible, that love can be found even in the midst of pain, and that we are all stronger than we think. The book’s popularity is a testament to the power of poetry to touch people’s hearts and minds. 

As Kaur herself writes in the final poem of the book, 

“it is your blood 

 in my veins 

tell me how I’m 

supposed to forget.” 

This book will stay with me for a long time, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful and moving read.

About the Author of Milk and Honey

Rupi Kaur- About the Author of Milk and Honey

A breakout literary phenomenon and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Rupi Kaur wrote, illustrated, and self-published her first poetry collection, ‘Milk and Honey’ in 2014. Next came its artistic siblings ‘the sun and her flowers’ and ‘home body’, both debuting at #1 on bestseller lists across the world. These collections have sold more than 11 million copies and have been translated into over 43 languages. Most recently in 2022- she released her 4th book ‘Healing Through Words’ which is a journey of guided writing exercises to help the reader explore their creativity.

As she has done from the very beginning, Rupi self-produced ‘Rupi Kaur Live’, the first poetry special of its kind, which debuted on Amazon Prime Video in 2021.

Rupi Kaur graces stages across the globe on sold-out world tours. These shows are a poetic theatrical experience interlaced with her own touch of stand-up. Her work touches on love, loss, trauma, healing, femininity, and migration. She feels most at home when creating art, performing her poetry onstage, and spending time with family and friends.