Milk and Honey

by Rupi Kaur

every time you tell your daughter you yell at her out of love you teach her to confuse anger with kindness which seems like a good idea till she grows up to trust men who hurt her cause they look so much like you

you have sadness living in places sadness shouldn’t live

but i was not made with a fire in my belly so i could be put out

i will not have you build me into your life when what i want is to build a life with you - the difference

you were not wrong for leaving you were wrong for coming back and thinking you could have me when it was convenient and leave when it was not

we began with honesty let us end in it too

he isn’t coming back whispered my head he has to sobbed my heart - wilting

i have what i have and i am happy i’ve lost what i’ve lost and i am still happy - outlook

of course i want to be successful but i don’t crave success for me i need to be successful to gain enough milk and honey to help those around me succeed

and you must never trade honesty for relatability