By. Selena Thao

This article will be about Poetry; I will be writing about how poems relate to me, how it can relate to me or how I view it as a reader.

Why am I viewing poetry and writing an article about it?

I love poetry deeply. When I’m in a tough spot in my life, I reflect off poetry. When I read poems that I relate to, it makes me feel like I’m not alone. Knowing that someone in this world gets me by just being in my shoes or having a similar situation makes me feel safe and secure, even if it’s just for a moment.

This first poetry book is called ‘Milk and Honey’ by. Rupi Kaur. In the description it says,

It seems as if this poetry book is like a diary; all of her thoughts, her cycles, her heart are in this book. There are four (4) chapters, “The Hurting” “The Loving” “The Breaking” and “The Healing”. 

For this poem, I view it as a woman who has genuine curiosity on how someone can put so much effort and affection into one soul and not have anything in return; but because of this, since WE are women, we are the ones who put all our energy, blood and a curiosity, something so deep, can make you wonder “is this how a mother feels?” I used to have thoughts like this too. I’ve always given my all to someone I’ve liked platonically and romantically, but always wanted something for them to give me, perhaps affection? But in this case it isn’t really a struggle thought, more of a responsibility. To give your kids everything in the world, your soul, blood and energy without wanting any payback or cost.

I actually used to relate to poems like this; growing up my father was never really in my life. He was in my life but not present. There’s not much to say about it other than “trauma dump”. But in my experience, I did search for him, day and night. A father is supposed to show you who a real man is, to be present and be a hero; but all we do is think that’s a fairytale description.

As a reader I view it as someone clinging onto another person that’s so dear to them but that person wants nothing to do with them, but when they do, all they want is for their selfish reasons and not the person who is willing to pour out everything to them.