What's powerful to me about Rupi Kaur's poetry is her refusal to apologize; to make excuses for those that see her as less than she is; to allow her spirit to be extinguished. She is one of my favorite poets, and as a girl, I read her poetry and feel closer to being a woman- I feel someone is saying that which I am incapable of, and eloquently at that. I've walked away from situations with men and women alike that have left a feeling of unsettlement regarding my experience as a female. I've been laughed at by a man for saying I was unsure of having children; I've been asked if an all girls summer camp is only for braiding hair; I've been met with shock when I say I've shot a gun, not because of the gun, but because I'm a girl behind the trigger. Feminism, and understanding what it means to me, is a substantial part of my identity, and it plays a role in my treatment of others and my conduct- when my father says I'm beautiful, I ask him if he thinks I'm brilliant too. When my mother says
you'll understand when you have children, when you get married, I say how do you know I will? Kaur questions and regards her experiences as a woman in a way that resonates in me so deeply it feels like I am praying to her by the end of her poems.
When you say this "When my mother says you'll understand when you have children, when you get married, I say how do you know I will?" it seems really real to me. This always happens to me. I also really liked how the picture really tied into your post.
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