QUIZ: Can You Guess Who Wrote These Poems? Rupi Kaur, or a Yahoo Answers Poetry Thread from 2008
This is the ULTIMATE quiz that will put your knowledge of mindless, banal clumps of words to the test. You probably have heard of writer Rupi Kaur, who found vast popularity with her books like Milk and Honey and The Sun and Her Flowers. Her books have become somewhat of a hip cultural icon. You also may have heard of Yahoo Answers, the equally popular website where literally anyone with access to the internet can field questions that some other stranger on the internet wants answered.
So I found a thread from a decade ago entitled “write your own poem?” and the submissions are by folks including bjmonkey136, perfect_demise, Isabel A, among other passionate linguists. Surely a best-selling writer is distinguishable from random online participants in a squalid corner of the internet, right? Right? Good luck!
1)
i do not need the kind of love
that is draining
i want someone
who energizes me
VS.
must hold my head high
because a smile of confidence
is recognized in any language
2)
the days when life has taken it’s toll on you
the days that seem endless
the restless nights
so you laugh
just because it feels good
or you count the dots on the ceiling
maybe stare into the wild blue
failure is not an option
quitting is out of the question
so you take a breath and keep going
VS.
i know it’s hard
believe me
i know it feels like
tomorrow will never come
and today will be the most
difficult day to get through
but i swear you will get through
the hurt will pass
as it always does
if you give it time
and let it
so let it go slowly
3)
peacefully she gazed down
tears flowing row by row
because he was gone
yet she knew she would be strong in the end
peacefully she opened the door and started to go outside
peacefully she entered the cab
not taking the time to wonder why
he used to say he loved her
and now she must go
to save her life
VS.
i don’t know what living a balanced life feels like
when i am sad i don’t cry i pour
when i am happy i don’t smile i glow
when i am angry i don’t yell i burn
the good thing about
feeling in extremes
is when i love
i give them wings
but perhaps
that isn’t
such a good thing
cause they always
tend to leave and
you should see me
when my heart is broken
i don’t grieve
Here are the answers (I genuinely forgot which was which and had to go back and confirm):
Rupi Kaur’s poems:
1) First poem
2) Second Poem
3) Second Poem