“Immigrant” Poem and Experiences by Rupi Kaur Essay

Introduction

Amongst the prolific oeuvre of an Indian-born Canadian writer Rupi Kaur, the poem “Immigrant” in The Sun and Her Flowers has made a strong impact on me. I chose this poem as it highlights the sensitive issue of the immigrants’ concerns and the challenges they still face in modern society. Kaur was born in the Indian city Punjab, and later her family immigrated to Canada when she was four. Such a cultural diversity strongly influenced Kaur’s childhood and overall perception of her life-based in both India and Canada that directly reflected on her writing. Therefore, being a citizen of the multi-cultured country myself, I find “Immigrant” quite related to my daily experience of encountering representatives of different cultures and nationalities.

Main body

As described by the author herself, being an immigrant is a funny little thing. Kaur shared her personal life story as well, disclosing the struggle one may face while being torn between two countries in “to have your entire life split between two lands”. This poem is a monologue that carries a powerful message to support every immigrant child who tries to fit into the new environment. Kaur herself attempted to adopt Western traditions; however, her Eastern part will always remain deeply rooted.

Conclusion

To conclude, to be an immigrant is a life challenge issue, that the author faced herself. Kaur finds it funny as she explains that in her hometown Punjab she feels more Canadian when in Canada she feels too brown amongst her surroundings. I believe it is a complicated situation, as an immigrant can never truly belong to one country. Kaur conveys her story through the “Immigrant”, as the call for those who “have no idea” to stay compassionate. I would like to finalize with Kaur’s depiction of an immigrant, who is “a bridge between the last generation and the next one”.

Work Cited

Kaur, Rupi. The Sun and Her Flowers. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2017.