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*Powerful Poetry: A string of words that create a visceral reaction that touches the very soul of the reader; raw, vulnerable writing; writing that fires the soul; a mirror for the soul.

I’m in awe of “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur. Experiencing this powerful poetry as an audiobook was an excellent choice. Reading it silently wouldn’t have done justice to the raw emotion and depth in Kaur’s words. Hearing the poems narrated brought them to life in a way that resonated deeply with me. Now, I’m eager to get the physical book to keep in my collection because this is the kind of poetry you want to return to again and again.

Books like this are literary masterpieces that make me see parts of myself. In “Milk and Honey,” I saw my pain reflected in Rupi Kaur’s. Hearing Kaur’s unapologetic acknowledgment of pain, gave me permission to acknowledge my own. This book pushed me to question why I had stopped and shifted from one book to the other. Why did I shift to the mom’s story and not finish the maiden’s? Then, the realization came as I was listening to “Milk and Honey.” I was scared. The maiden story—”The Devil That Haunts Me” leans on that part of me I have not acknowledged.

I’ve hidden from myself my deepest hurts and the shame that comes with it. Yet, “Milk and Honey,” said, look at it, soothe it, know it. And I replied, I will, and I will buy this book, and it will be a reminder of what we can do with our pain—turn it into something beautiful. And I will keep it close by, a testament to the restorative nature of powerful poetry and the strength found in speaking up.

If you haven’t read or listened to “Milk and Honey” yet, I highly recommend it. It’s an emotional journey that’s worth every minute.