Poetry Challenge Week 9

This week’s poetry has been from a book that I bought when browsing in Waterstone’s last week. It’s a collection of poems by the British/Indian poet Nikita Gill. I didn’t realise when I bought it that it’s actually a YA collection. I have loved the poems that I’ve read so far and will certainly explore her adult poetry too.

The book is labelled as ‘an empowering, feminist collection’ and is about all the things that the poet wishes she had been told when she was younger. I loved the very first poem in the book. It’s only short but it’s something that I could really say to my daughter (or son).

Before We Begin………..

I cannot tell you
I have all the answers
There are still skeletons in my closet
I haven’t learned the names of yet.

Which is to say
I’m here for you
but I’m a work in progress
just like you.

Nikita Gill

This really sums up how I feel sometimes. As a mum, I feel that I should have all the answers for my children but I really don’t!

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