Where: The Orpheum Theatre
When: November 8, 2017On the heels of a sold-out show earlier in June, this New York Times Bestseller made her stop in Vancouver and was welcomed by an adorning audience that was touted to be her “biggest crowd” since the tour for her second book, “the sun and her flowers” commenced. Renowned feminist author, poet, multi-media artist and genuine international phenomenon Rupi Kaur graced the stage in a beautiful dress by Co – an LA-based womenswear line and a pair of gorgeous Manolo Blahnik open-tow sandals. She was ready. And to the cue of the opening applause, she began reading from her highly-publicized second book of poetry that was published on October 3, 2017.
19, 21, 24 and 37 opened the evening’s spoken word performance from her second collection of poetry. This collection of poetry takes you through a vibrant and transcendent journey about growth and healing; ancestry and honoring one’s roots; emigration and rising up to find a home within yourself. Having finished reading both books recently, and being filled with all types of emotions, hearing Rupi read to us as she delved into themes of love, loss, trauma, healing, and femininity was breathtaking. In her elegance and simplicity, she delivered a program of outstanding work. The special touch to her performance came in between reading the different chapters of here book. She would take us through a musical rendition of one of her pieces, and to the beat she recited word after word and conjured up feelings hidden so deep that all we could do was feel and embrace the ride – for the good and the the bad.
My first time seeing her, I was blown away by her performance as she took us through this journey of spoken word. But, I was more impressed by her candid and trusting nature that made me feel like we were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a few months. It was beautiful.
As the evening came to a close, and in fitting form with reading some of her pieces from her first book, “milk and honey“, she made the exception of reading a shouted request from an adoring fan before she left the stage to a standing ovation.
For anyone who has not picked up and of her books, I urge you to stop whatever it is you are doing and go pick them up. Her work will touch you in ways that you wouldn’t have imagined. It will take you places that you had suppressed long ago. And, it will allow you to delve deep and let go of some of the wounds from your past. If you aren’t a poetry lover, you will enjoy poetry after reading her work because not only is it relatable, it is very relevant and honest.
