Milk and honey is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. About the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity. It is split into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose. Deals with a different pain. Heals a different heartache. Milk and honey takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look.
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[how it is so easy for you to be kind to people he asked]
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(Andrews McMeel Publishing, 6 October 2015, borrowed from the library)
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I enjoyed this collection of poetry and prose.
The themes explored are universal and easy to relate to. I enjoyed the poems the most though the short prose pieces were powerful as well.
I've read a lot of criticism of this collection, saying none of the poems are 'real' and read more like random thoughts on a blog or Instagram. It's true some of the stylistic techniques used mimic social media.
However, who can say what a 'real' poem is? There is not set list a piece must tick in order to be accepted as a poem. Poems are diverse and changing all the time. I've read and written poems in the form of letters, confessions, journals and text messages to name but a few. There is such a thing as prose poem.
Milk and Honey contains poetry. Who am I to say otherwise?
Many of the pieces in this collection are raw, powerful and intense. I also liked the little sketches scattered throughout to illustrate some of the pieces.
