Nectar
Nectar is a poetry book written by one of my favorite poets, Upile Chisala. This collection of poetry is a little different from her first book, soft magic because it's organized in chapters and is focused on loss, love, and healing.
Upile's poetry is a much-needed narrative for women because it's relatable, it promotes self-love, and inspires women to walk away from unhealthy relationships. These poems are so good, I wanted to rip some of the pages out and stick it to my bedroom wall as daily reminders. Upile writes poems about loving yourself tremendously but also encourages the reader to make room for softness. Some poems have beautiful imagery of partners trying to love the darkness and pain out of each other. The first half of the book made me think of old wounds, but the latter half made me want to fall in love.
Upile also shares her battle with demons that come in the form of depression and anxiety, and how she refuses to answer to them. She touches on feeling homesick, feeling the pressure of our ancestors begging to not be forgotten and learning from the strength of her mother. There are poems that speak to women of color and some poems that address racial injustice.
Reading Nectar felt like reading a self help book and I highly recommend that you get it. 10% of all proceeds from this book go to the Nectar Foundation, which is a charitable foundation founded by Upile to further the academic pursuits of Malawian women and girls. Without giving too much away I’ll share a few of my favorite pieces.
“I am
Black
Woman
and
African
in a world that undervalues all three.”
“Daughter, I hope you never have to crawl on your good bones to beg bad love to stay”
“Although, I am happy that you’ve asked me to be the warm thing you care for, please not that there’s nothing you can do that could ever make me abandon myself. I have fought too hard for this. I am finally someone I love. I am someone I won’t betray.”
“I hope you forgive the parts of you that are still doubtful when a good thing finds you. They are healing”
“Darling at some point, we all have to stand up for the kind of love we deserve”
