Blythe Baird - Sad Girls Club

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Blythe Baird, performing at Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN.
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Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.
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[@ramaa6064]

"We joked about suicide so often it became hard to tell the difference between a punch line and a promise."

[@clarissagao9324]

a joke or a cry for help??? ....uh both

[@kathybramley5609]

Maybe a mixture of conceptual art and morbid play!? Like creative industries and culture can be at all levels: spoken word to fine arts and Billie Ellish and treating current protests like Coachella in the middle? A comorbidity. I think perhaps she's not just thinking critically about Tumblr. Though she stays in her lane.

[@allisonbozyk]

“But what we heard is that crying is what made us pretty and suffering is what made us matter” so powerful.

[@allisonbozyk]

“How does anyone heal in a culture that glorifies self hatred” love her

[@sofiasantossayo2097]

"It is one thing to want help but another to have the language to ask for it" now that really hit hard.

[@josefgarcia1239]

WHATEVER YOU SAY HELGA, WHATEVER YOU SAY

[@sofiasantossayo2097]

THANK YOU, MR. MOOD KILLER

[@josefgarcia1239]

PASHOUT OUT NAMAN PO MAAM DAMI NA TALAGA LIKES

[@sofiasantossayo2097]

AMPPPP SHOUTOUT NA SIGE

[@SpaztasticSheep]

"What if someone had told us that we didn't have to be bleeding to he open? What if someone told me that a wound Was not the only way to travel into the centre of myself?" Holy shit, she's done it again

[@ravyntaylor6982]

I came upon this comment as I heard the line, Goosebumps.

[@crstph]

i know right, im gonna be thinking about this one for A While

[@froggyfun1830]

I’ve never seen a poem address the glorification of mental illness in media so well. She hits not only the fact that’s it’s glorified in media but it’s glorified in our own mentally ill minds, how the two intertwine so horribly. I am mentally ill and used to draw art like you’d see on tumblr. (Tw) Self harm scars with flowers growing out of it. Things like that. It was only a year later I realized how worse I was back then. I didn’t even mean to glorify stuff like that when drawing it but my mental illness already did the work for me subconsciously. Because suicide and self harm looks like a pretty escape when you have mental health issues, and the media only worsens that. Sorry for my ramble but I love this poem so much.

[@darlingm9967]

I hope you’re doing well. Continue to do better and I hope you know your and continue to and fight too. You are so important just as an individual. Never forget. Never be afraid to ask for help. I hope you’re better and continue to.

[@froggyfun1830]

@@darlingm9967 Aw thank you for such kind words. I’m doing well. I’ve been in therapy for about a year and half now and I’ve made a lot of progress! I hope you’re doing alright too. Have a lovely day :)

[@kitkatkat196]

I’m a simple girl, I see Blythe and I click 👌🏻

[@abbysykes6673]

"It is one thing to want help, it is another thing to find the language to ask for it. " Literally so elegant and beautiful. I love Blythe Baird.

[@dejonaylewis3902]

I loved watching Blythe grow as a person and a poet.

[@safiyarani4448]

She grew in size as well.

[@dejonaylewis3902]

@@safiyarani4448 are u talking about a healthy grow???? Or are you coming at one of my fav poets?

[@safiyarani4448]

Look at her face from the side. She practically has a double chin. The front camera is angled from the top to be more forgiving.

[@sof2263]

@@safiyarani4448 does it really matter?

[@safiyarani4448]

@@sof2263 I was just responding to Dejoney Lewis.

[@rebeccah2662]

Oh my god, I’m crying, I’ve just been rewatching skins and hearing Blythe say “I didn’t eat for three days so I could be lovely” I can’t handle it. I love her poetry!

[@Everdinaaa]

I've also rewatched it 5 years after I originally watched it and suddenly it's not inspiring anymore, it's extremely toxic and I feel sad for the 13 year-old girl who romanticized the shit out of the show, but I also feel proud for no longer wanting to be like that and realizing that true happiness does not come from being pretty, being skinny, downing a bottle of vodka or taking miscellaneous pills

[@rebeccah2662]

Evie Rasing I’m so glad you’ve moved on from that mindset. I watched it in my late teens when I was in college. I was never into drinking and I’ve never taken any drugs so I didn’t romanticise that part of the show, but when I watched it I wasn’t in a great place with my eating disorder and 15 to 16 was when I was in the absolute depths of it. After hearing this poem I literally cried thinking “I wish I was lovely and skinny” I really wish I wasn’t still jealous of Cassie. I’m doing better now, I’ve been trying to recover for about 11 months now, but it’s still a long journey to go

[@Everdinaaa]

@@rebeccah2662 Awh I'm so sorry to hear you're still struggling, but I'm glad that you're making progress! I'm not a therapist, nor do I have a lot of personal experience with this (I've struggled with body image and disorded eating for a while but not to the extent that it took over my life or compromised my health) but if shows like Skins affect your mental state in a negative way, maybe try to follow KZbinrs, TV shows, Instagram and Tumblr accounts that advocate health, self-growth, self-love, and just general excitement about the things in life that do not concern your body or eating habits... I know it seems like an obvious thing but we're so often not conscious about the effect that social media and the people we follow have on our own mental well-being and making that change will almost make you 'forget' about the glorified/romanticized world of eating disorders, depression, substance abuse, toxic relationships etc, and actually inspire you to WANT to escape that place you're in right now. I genuinely hope that you will find peace with yourself and you'll be able to let go of intrusive and compulsive negative thoughts, but if you find yourself struggling feel free to reach out! xx (I know that's often easier than talking to friends or family, but obviously they know you better so if you have that support system that's great) (my instagram is just @evierasing)

[@rebeccah2662]

Evie Rasing thanks for such a lovely reply, I follow a lot of positive people on social media, specifically Rebecca Jane who’s a KZbinr recovering from anorexia, she really inspires me, and in a way Blythe poetry does the same because she went through so much but she’s still so strong and she seems much happier now, at least from her instagram. I feel much better now than I used to, especially compared to when I was 15/16, but every so often something will trigger me, but today I feel happier, I’ve been starting to eat lunch every day, and I just ate dinner and don’t feel guilty about it, so you know it’s peaks and valleys

[@ihatemickiegee]

Evie Rasing the sad thing is it was made specifically TO show the reality of teen lives and how ACTUALLY we “coped” with things so that it could be a realistic but relatable and dramatic display but with the forgetfulness that teens will not just watch and be captivated by it as a show but be “inspired”(triggered) by going the same ways, often even if they haven’t already - there is so much misalignment between what is to be an art medium made also to entertain and what will be absorbed into those who are entertained when teens become emotionally involved in things they take it too personally for it to just be an entertaining medium...

[@evahadjiyanis8387]

support this amazing poet by buying her book “if my body could speak.” it is a masterpiece that i keep on my bed stand.

[@sagejennings4342]

Yes! Everyone must own this book. It helps me to feel and heal.

[@beccymorris6754]

I have it! Excited for her next

[@isobelneferata330]

"We were all 13 when we logged onto tumblr" Okay I was thinking I'd relate to this poem not be called out xD

[@crxytater1276]

“Assured us that we were still pretty when we cried but what we heard was that crying is what made us pretty.” Wow, that hit me. Blythe Baird is such a gorgeous poet, I love her pieces.

[@corinnabickel2335]

Blythe doesn't ALWAYS have to come for me and my whole life damn

[@i.e.ivor2308]

“what if someone had told us we didn’t have to be bleeding to be open” please Blythe you break me every time

[@tummyhertz]

“We were terrified to consider our worth as something that lied outside the barrier of our hurt. What if someone had told us that we didn’t have to be bleeding, to be open.” Struck me... beautiful words

[@liormarom1266]

the Cassie one from skins made me realize this was all of us

[@whatlindsaywrote]

I literally had a high school friend group called sadgirls squad and we had shared suicidal catch phrases so this really hits

[@njtowers5816]

This inspired me to write this. I just wrote this. Long ago in a time lost to time itself I went to a school that tried to help. Oh yes, did they try. Try to help a troubled boy succeed in life, But the only thing that brought me comfort was my razor at home. The best company in a world where I felt alone. I didn’t feel the pain after a while. The sight of my blood made me smile. All the while my mom stood outside the door. Telling me not to cut anymore. My brother called the police when I ran outside. Slicing away what was left of my pride Nicky, no was all he said When I jumped out of the truck presumed dead. But I still went to school with none the wiser How outside I was a house fire. Burning away bridges meant to hold. With a heart ice cold. No remorse for my actions. Metal met my skin like some magnetic attraction. Never did they guess as they made fun. That all I wanted was a gun. To end them all, and then myself. Such is the damage of poor metal health. The thought of death felt so relaxing. The ridicule I endured was so taxing. I wanted to die then, and often I still do. But I’ll keep fighting until my time is through. I’ll stay strong bearing the scars I made. After using my arm like a stencil to a razor blade. I can’t give up when I’ve come so far. I’m still a man though my skin is marred. I’ll take my experiences from the past. And keep the hope that I feel at last.

[@njtowers5816]

And keep the hope that I feel at last.

[@unathimtshali8480]

You're an amazing writer❤

[@njtowers5816]

@@unathimtshali8480 thank you so much. It’s been an escape for me much of my life. I’m better at communicating through poetry than I am with my words. I appreciate you taking the time to read.

[@unathimtshali8480]

@@njtowers5816 I Hope you write more and don't let your work sit on paper Go out there and perform

[@valentino1646]

Blythe always reminds me I can never stop watching spoken word and slam poetry. It's been around 4 or 5 years since i started watching button poetry. A lot has changed since then, but these poems still shake up my core.

[@ButtonPoetry]

Thank you so much Angelique! It means so much to us to a see a post like that.

[@valentino1646]

@@ButtonPoetry No really, thank YOU. I've learned so much about myself and people's experiences through the amazing poems you have shared. You introduced 15 year old me to a whole new world of poetry apart from the Robert Frost and Shakespeare in English Anthology and I am beyond grateful. From a Kenyan girl half across the world, I truly appreciate this channel ♡

[@denisethiessen4131]

Low key had a mental breakdown Saturday and her book helped me so so much. Love her poem. She is such a good artists

[@dejonaylewis3902]

I love you. !! 🌻

[@holly7587]

"It is one thing to want help, and another to have the language to ask for it." I swear I can relate too well with her poems, she's amazing.

[@allisonbozyk]

Her poems are always so powerful. Her words are so relatable and beautiful

[@merryberry1113]

THIS WOMAN IS AMAZING. She is such an inspiration. I love all of her poems. I am so proud to be a poet like her, my mother, and my mentors. We are strong. The world throws everything they got at us and we survive.

[@littlewagers]

Punchline or a promise?

[@tali_rise]

"It is one thing to want help, and another to have the language to ask for it." This hit home

[@c.o.6584]

"The whole freaking poem" now that hit hard

[@samcu1379]

*snap snap snap*

[@leahthorp8337]

"Fake fruit rots on our mother's kitchen counters" damn

[@VioletLaStrange1]

I love when a poem coerces me to feel something, even if it’s sadness

[@Fine4ACollegeDime]

"It became difficult to tell the difference between a punchline and a promise." I felt this way for a long time after a few of my friends went through this and not all made it out.

[@jisoosnonexistentlines9583]

i bite my nails a lot due to anxiety and i hate the disgusted looks people give me, my mum always tells me to stop by degrading me by using this. Like yes i’m ashamed of it and i’ve tried so damn hard to stop biting my nails but what can i do? it’s not my fault anxiety tries to eat me up

[@personperson744]

Omg early for once!!!! Blythe has to be my absolute favorite poet, her words are so powerful and hit so close to home

[@fairycars]

been waiting for another blythe poem to be posted! they’re my favorite, she’s my favorite 💕

[@allisonbozyk]

Same

[@milageorgieva8235]

“it is one thing to want help, and another to have the language to ask for it” damn

[@lisabla2763]

This. Fucking. Poem..especially the Tumblr part..all of this was me in my kid/teenage years..just barely recovered now from this shit.. thank you so much for this!!! ❤❤

[@larkhaven1582]

omg I can relate to the tumblr thing so much. and the Cassie quote is still always in my mind.

[@lishy_jan_2381]

Why does this hit so close to home... for where I used to be in my life especally "hits getting too hard to tell the difference between a punch line and a promis"

[@anisajas696]

It’s summer where I am here in nyc, only reason why I’m bringing that up is because when I listen to this I feel cold. Goosebumps going up and down my body, that I had to wear a blanket just to get rid of that feeling but at the same time I related to all of this so much and I feel heard and understood... maybe this is my sign to seek help. It’s not too late.

[@crstph]

it is NOT too late. never ever ever. do future you a favor and get that help, because as soon as you do you will be happy you didn't wait any longer

[@user-px9nt7vn4i]

I've watched this 5 seperate times since it was put up. It's so good

[@ravencassidy1979]

I'm obsessed with her words

[@fluffs.]

I love her I love her I love her I love her I love her. Oh, and I love her.

[@amnarashid1421]

Before watching Blythe's videos, I hold my breath and release it once she's done with her poem. Her words are that powerful.

[@sachasimmons5944]

The glorification of EDs and self harm is so frustrating to see in Skins.

[@tenyialove5449]

This is so beautiful and powerful I relate it to so much

[@leaf111]

blythe has gotta be one of my favorite button poets

[@sammichaels10]

There's so much beauty in our words. Conveying emotion with only pen and paper

[@cassandrajordan2820]

I always loved Blythe baird.

[@wormtv1]

blythe has really outdone herself...she just keeps growing and improving. I love her and her work so much

[@malusalvador7206]

This is powerful

[@gymnastic_queen6711]

Blythe is so freaking amazing! Her poetry always hits deep.

[@crisp3165]

literally my favorite poet omg i love her so much

[@EmuLRian]

It's not easy to make me cry with a poem but this one really struck a chord. I was right there with you.

[@amanda_unfiltered]

That gave me chills...pretty sure I held my breath for the entire 4 minutes. So relatable. Sending love to anyone else who can relate to this poem as well. ❤️

[@halicrow2075]

This is one of her best poems, I love this so much

[@user-kn5ck4mf2i]

Yess one of my favorite poets ever.

[@bridgetbaker5873]

this is one of the most important poems I've ever heard. thank you blythe

[@kirakyouji1021]

Blythe is the best! this is so beautiful

[@papablesss4341]

I love all of this girls poetry, its absolutely beautiful

[@leahanderson2683]

Chills. Oh my god. You're so so so talented

[@jetbrinkman2592]

I love this girl so much

[@brattygf8538]

It really hit home

[@yolandaquartey.]

I love this girl

[@tshiamo3524]

I adore Blythe. Her touching truth, her messages, I just love her.

[@jasminemallett6859]

As someone who suffered from self harm for 5 years that last sentence made me cry. I related to the whole of this so badly. You'll forever be one of my favourite poets.

[@cl4uxx]

i love this so much, i need it in spotify pleaseee

[@meowinde]

You really really hit home for me. I'm literally shocked at the openness in your poem.

[@em_973]

she is the BEST poet

[@queenbrezzy2504]

That’s so powerful

[@medaminefarhat8648]

waaw very epic very sad alot of emotions it looks like my self is talking

[@introvertgirl1676]

I just love this girl! She's good. I enjoy her poetry. I enjoy listening to every word she spits and following every tone she climbs on.

[@ellenw7904]

Every new thing I see, I fall a little more in love with her

[@ZamaraTheBunnyGirl]

Super deep. I felt every word. I feel u I see u

[@kylecarpetburn4767]

Blythe bard never fails

[@philemntungwa423]

Crying is what made us pretty and suffering is what made us matter what if someone told us that we did not have to bleed to be open

[@sophialorena6009]

So beautiful ❤️

[@julietteorejel4255]

“So she could be lovely” you are lovely and loved❤️

[@jasperrosa1369]

So much talent

[@ceryspritchard2470]

chills

[@paigerichard8821]

that last line. wow wow wow

[@tabbykat8564]

YES LITERALLY YES

[@annabel1207]

I immediately clicked when I saw Blythe

[@marialigia8300]

been there, done that. thanks!

[@cantankeruz]

I can't relate but also relate.

[@pattyjo818]

Omg I was at this performance☺️

[@neetubaskota3878]

Blythe you shine girl love you😇

[@zoereecie]

me every time she mentioned not eating, after not eating today: 👁👄👁

[@rm7023]

Did you eat?

[@ayasameh846]

Girl that is a poem I needed to hear

[@cowboycrickette]

I relate to this a little too much

[@halamomenah8397]

"It's one thing to want help and another to have the language to ask for it"

[@ohwow9124]

Never felt so connected to a poem before. I don't know what to say.

[@harleyy2280]

mmm watching poetry to make me cry because im numb 😌

[@shaya9745]

this hit way too hard

[@Supergirl9909]

oh my god this is too accurate what the hellllll

[@amandabusick1640]

“It is one thing to want help... but another to have the language to ask for it” got me

[@noobpoetry8922]

Woah. Fabulous 😎😎

[@lavalava3108]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Cassie from Skins. ❤️

[@gyccowrites]

Oh the tumblr part killed me

[@crstph]

yeah that one screencap from skins.....it was like a mantra