The second released poetry collection from best-selling poet Rupi Kaur.
Dates Read: 12/06/2022 to 13/06/2022
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Word to describe: Healing
Genre: Poetry
Following a weekend of emotional turmoil, I needed something that would help me forget the negatives and become one with my emotions in a way that was not self-destructive. As always Rupi Kaur's healing words offered a place of solace. Her writing simultaneously captures the essence of depression and hope through the common themes of relationships, heartache, motherhood, immigration, and self-love. Many of the poems featured in this collection are dedicated to Rupi Kaur's own mother (her love and admiration radiate from the page).
From its gracefully illustrated cover alone I knew that this collection was going to be an instant hit for me. Poems by Rupi Kaur have the ability to project contentment to her readers, many of her reviews comment on the healing ability of her words and how easy it is to gain true perspective away from the torment of mental health. Personally, I find that this book is elevated in status when compared to her initial poetry publication. With each new prose, readers can see the growth and evolution in Rupi's writing style. Each poem perfectly flows into the next without the added feeling is disconnection that can now be felt when compared to Milk and Honey
Similar to its predecessor The Sun and Her Flowers relies heavily on the presentation and accompaniment of illustrations. Each poem has a story to tell and the matching embellishment of doodles help to convey the tale. Poems of depression are paired with synchronised rain drops or images of a sullen figure, poems of happiness are paired with flowers and scenes to embrace freedom, and, finally, poems on specific themes such as immigration are paired with the most unique of all. I admire each and every illustration paired with these poems and only wish for more poets to include these in their own collections.
The themes explored in this collection are reminiscent of other great poets (like my favourite Courtney Peppernell) but the one theme I enjoyed reading about in particular was the ongoing theme of loss through immigration. Rupi Kaur focused a lot on the sense of community and identity when being transported to a new world so different from the one you were brought up in. I have always lived in the UK so have never had to experience immigration - but these poems of hope for a better future and longing for a past forgotten are emotive and intricately designed to show readers the experience of immigration in a way that is breathtakingly beautiful.
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