Written for: Poets United – Wild Friday (posted by Sanaa)
Poetry: Milk and Honey~Kupi Kaur
“Have you ever read a poetry collection that makes you taste fire and storm? Have the words ever touched you so deeply you just had to voice your opinion?
“Milk and honey,” reveals a far more significant purpose. Kaur adapts to the fluidity of the modern age whilst retaining a sense of heritage, culture, and power. This is not poetry to become half-remembered on a dusty shelf as a ‘modern classic’, but to be read out loud, written in texts to loved ones, and learnt by heart.”
So, for our second Wild Friday at Poets United, I invite you to write poetry and offer the following two options:
1) Write a poem inspired by one or all of the quoted pieces from Rupi Kaur’s poetry collection, “Milk and Honey.” Tell us how you feel and what comes to mind while reading these poems.
2) Or, if your muse prefers something different, pick one poetry collection that has touched you deeply, and write a response poem. Feel free to address what affects you the most.
My Selection:
(iii)
did you think I was a city
big enough for a weekend getaway
I am the town surrounding it
the one you’ve never heard of but always pass through
there are no neon lights here
no skyscrapers or statues
but there is thunder for i make bridges tremble
I am not street meat i am homemade jam
thick enough to cut the sweetest thing your lips will touch
I am not police sirens
I am the crackle of a fireplace
I’d burn you and you still couldn’t take your eyes off me
cause I’d look so beautiful doing it
you’d blush
I am not a hotel room I am home
I am not the whiskey you want
I am the water you need
don’t come here with expectations
and try to make a vacation out of me.
Here is a woman
so sure of her identity–
thunder, thick homemade jam,
crackle of a fireplace–
that her inner and outer
beauty are one, and easily
recognizable. She is not
a one-night stand, complete
with drinks. She tells you
outright of the life she
expects and deserves. If
a man wants to share
that life with her, he will
know, upfront, of the
strength and independence
she possesses. Like burning
candy, she is equal parts
fire and sweetness.
Oh my goodness this is a most stunning poem, Sara!! ❤️ So much to love here especially; “thunder, thick homemade jam, crackle of a fireplace– that her inner and outer beauty are one.” It deserves a countless reads! 😀 Thank you so much for writing to the prompt! ❤️
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Thanks, Sanaa. It was a beautiful, worthwhile prompt.
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Ah! Burning candy! I think it is well to hesitate before attempting to touch.
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Ha! Good advice, Susan.
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This builds image after wonderful image into a resolute end
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Thanks, Jae!
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“Like burning candy” reminds me of those hot cinnamon kisses we would get at Valentine’s. They started sweet and would slowly build to a burn, only those who could stand the heat would ever eat them. I love the poem you picked and your response to it. There is a feeling of empowerment, I know who I am and if you can’t see me in the same way then don’t bother me at all.
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I remember we used to eat Red Hots. They were candy dots, and we’d see how many we could put on our tongues before they burned.
Thanks for taking away empowerment from it.
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So strong, so vivid and a beautiful description
of ‘woman.’
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Thanks, Vivian!
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A whole woman of a poem. And how lucky for the one who choose to be chosen by her. Seriously, how many gifts come with instructions.
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This woman’s instructions self-destruct!
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Really? I must be misreading the poem then. Or, perhaps, I just think differently. I see knowing oneself, asking for what one needs and wants, and letting others know these things as a great strength, as strength of character. If we know what we want, we work towards getting it and don’t care to settle for “almost”.
“know, upfront, of the
strength and independence
she possesses. Like burning
candy, she is equal parts
fire and sweetness.”
How is this self-destructive?
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I was thinking of an old TV spy show, when the instructions burn after they are memorized. Sorry for the confusion.
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Ha! Mission Impossible? It went totally over my head. No worries. I probably needed more coffee before reading. 😀
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Well, you did hit the right show!
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How we all should aspire to have such strength and confidence. I really enjoyed this poem.
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Thanks, Robin!
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This is the poem that made me decide I MUST buy this book!
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Easily understood!
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Strong …. beautiful!
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Thanks so much, Sreeja!
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