Transcript of an Interview with Poet Rupi Kaur 

September 2, 2019 
 
INTERVIEWER: DAVE FRANCO 
 
Interviewer:​Good morning Rupi, let’s start off this interview by introducing yourself to the people of Poetry 
Magazine. 
 
Rupi Kaur:​Hello everyone, I am Rupi Kaur a 25-year-old poet and illustrator of two collections of poetry.  
 
Interviewer:​Your debut collection M ​ ilk and Honey​ , has sold 2.5 million copies worldwide and has put you 
on the New York Times best-seller list for 78 weeks. And that kind of success is rare for an author to achieve and 
even more rare for a poet. Your success and fanbase comes from your popular Instagram account, how 
impactful do you think the media is now with poetry? 
 
Rupi Kaur:​I know that a couple of years ago poetry writers and readers were in a bit of downfall and I feel like 
with social media becoming a platform that almost everyone is on can really be impactful for many things. We 
can see in the past years' poetry has come back to light and it is because of social media whether it be from 
Instagram, Tumblr or Twitter. And in my case, I am happy to say that I brought more awareness to poetry and 
even to what poetry has evolved into today.  
 
Interviewer:​Do you feel as if you are in fact a gateway for people to grow an interest in poetry? 
 
Rupi Kaur:​A lot of people do in fact say that and I truly do hope I am because I want people to see what they 
and others can do with poetry.  
 
Interviewer:​I think it is so interesting that Instagram is your platform for your work and even how Rolling 
Stone named you “Queen of the Instapoets”. In your words, what is an “Instapoet” in your eyes? 
 
Rupi Kaur:​Well in my eyes, its a group of many poets using Instagram as a platform to broadcast their poetry 
and contribute to giving poetry a new light in mainstream media. That's why we all have been grouped together 
as Instapoets. And you don’t have to have thousands of followers to be an Instapoet, they can be anyone.  
 
Interviewer:​How do you determine what poems are worthy of an Instagram post or a page in your book? 
 
Rupi Kaur:​Usually whenever I read one of my pieces if I can feel the last line in my stomach, it gets a post. But 
usually whatever I do share on Instagram is found in ​Milk and Honey​.  
 
 
 
 
 
Interviewer:​I know that before you took off with your poetry, you’ve received quite a bit of ill fame associated 
with some controversial Instagram posts. Your pictures that were for your college art project really gave you a 
voice in advocating for women’s rights, do you try to incorporate that into your poetry? 
 
Rupi Kaur:​Yes, in my work I unveil the beauty of women and the value of strong women no matter what 
racial, cultural, or ethnic backgrounds. I advocate for women and young girls to acknowledge their strengths 
while projecting the concept of equality for everyone.  
 
Interviewer:​How do you deal with other poets or people judging your poetry as simplistic and “not real 
poetry”? 
 
Rupi Kaur:​I understand that my work is simple and simplistic and that is the point. To be able to give anyone 
reading it a simple experience that is filled with an array of emotions. And some people, finimilar with poetry or 
not, like to call out my work as not being “real poetry” because of the simplicity and that's what I don’t seem to 
understand. There is a fine line on what is considered poetry and basically, it’s what the poetry makes out of it. 
It’s your work you have the creative license to do whatever you truly desire. Let’s stop being so traditional and 
make our own rules.  
 
Interviewer:​What do you want to let all the poetry scholars know about a new era of poetry? 
 
Rupi Kaur:​I want them to be aware of how poetry is evolving and is making a come back. Before, poetry was 
wasn’t given a positive look because how poetry is seen as just being very traditional and complex. It doesn’t 
have to be like that anymore and it is not. Anyone can become a poet and create poetry about anything in their 
own style. And I feel like technology and Social Media is so powerful and we saw that in the rebirth of poetry. I 
think it’s great and I am grateful for it having the best influence on my work and career. 
 
Interviewer:​Thank you Rupi you and your poetry are inspiring. I wish you luck in your future projects and 
your success. Everyone make sure to take a look at her works: ​Milk and Honey​ and ​The Sun and Her Flowers​.