Blythe Baird - Yet Another Rape Poem

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Blythe Baird, performing at Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN.
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[@robertsmithfan877]

its such a privilege to be annoyed with sexual assault stories rather than to relate to them

[@cinnamoncat2731]

That’s the truth

[@SpaztasticSheep]

Yes!

[@mickeyp6639]

Or you can also be a sexual assault victim and still find it fucking annoying

[@Coolkid-ct8mb]

Off topic, but amazing pfp

[@leemaycarstens2514]

Wow wow wow , too true

[@aerynrayne1335]

She does not talk about it too much, people are just not used to hearing it.

[@killmepls-rg8kk]

Yep. v_v

[@ebpinkerton4507]

YES

[@jesusflores6042]

Nice profile pic

[@nadalekene2446]

AMEN

[@conanhochhalter2650]

@@conorgilsenan3821 What, so she's just supposed to stop talking about her trauma?

[@oliviasymonds928]

"There is no socially acceptable time or place to talk about rape." And yet, there's always going to be enough time for another assault. Another victim.

[@shutterfilms7276]

There will always be someone, nothing you can do.

[@dragonflies6793]

@@shutterfilms7276 There is something you can do. Listen.

[@shutterfilms7276]

@@dragonflies6793 But some cases can be false, peculiar but still possible, and listening isn't a real solution to the problem, a temporary one but not a permanent one.

[@dragonflies6793]

@@shutterfilms7276 You're completely right. Listening doesn't solve anything, but it also isn't nothing. It's helpful to know you're not totally alone.

[@shutterfilms7276]

@@dragonflies6793 Yeah.

[@londeyloos]

It’s simple: when you see Blythe Baird’s name, you click.

[@thedoorman8570]

London Iverson it was an instant reaction for me : D

[@asias3000]

London Iverson factual

[@uggbootgf]

London Iverson tea!

[@saige81711]

Exactly

[@virgillajuenesse170]

Yep

[@vidhitiwari21]

"...do you know how long it took me to say anything at all?"

[@asranee1588]

almost three years

[@vidhitiwari21]

@@asranee1588 I'm sorry to hear it, and I'm glad you could bring it up. All power to you 💜

[@asranee1588]

@@vidhitiwari21 didn't even realize it counted as rape until this week

[@vidhitiwari21]

@@asranee1588 I know how it feels to not know and have the realisation hit you suddenly, it sucks. I'm glad you got through to speaking about it

[@isabellalaka2671]

“My statement is that I stayed here in this body” Spoke to me so loud

[@grxvityae]

I realized two weeks ago I was raped many times by my abusive ex boyfriend. You don't speak too much. You speak for people like me who don't know how to tell, how to accept, how to move on. You speak to all the people who did not believe me and stayed with him. Thank you for doing that, you're a light in the dark. ❤️

[@dvb5670]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ i hope for the best for you.

[@Tris-Eaton79431]

I completely relate! I called what my ex boyfriend did to me sexual abuse for the longest time and didn’t realize till recently it was actually rape. I understand. And you are not alone. 🧡

[@devine__words]

“I’ve noticed that people only stop calling me victim and started calling me survivor when I stopped talking about it” THAT PART HAD ME IN SHAMBLES❗️

[@adrienhughes6830]

As a survivor, I admire the hell out of Blythe for speaking so openly and honestly. Easily one of my favorite spoken word poets.

[@dvb5670]

❤❤❤❤💖💖💖 i hope you are doing well.

[@Cloiq]

Imagine getting raped

[@adrienhughes6830]

@@dvb5670 I'm well. Thank you

[@adrienhughes6830]

@@Cloiq Uh, I was, which is why I said "as a survivor", because I AM one. 🙄

[@ladymillah1.040]

I am one too, I admire her too, they are so brave to talk about it.., I only talk about it when no one knows who I am..

[@allianadavis9031]

“I’m afraid to wear my recovery too publicly. I’ve noticed that people only stop calling me victim and started calling me survivor when I stopped talking about it. And I’ve stopped bringing flowers to the grave of the teenager I use to be; back when I had orchids in my hair, and polka dots on my shoes, bubbling over with light.”

[@SelendangSulaimanOfficial]

Alliana Davis 👍👍👍

[@jwicks747]

My favorite part too!

[@baileesmith9943]

Alliana Davis love it

[@amwelch0424]

💛💛💛💛💛💛

[@DarkestLove191]

This part got me too. Related so hard to putting flowers on the grave of the girl I used to be.

[@allianadavis9031]

“I am a thunderstorm of a women with so much to say. Do you know how long it took me to say anything at all?”

[@h1gh420]

Who asked you?

[@reginaphalange6035]

I still have the dress, was packing my cupboard the other day and started shaking when I found it. This week has been very challenging. I’m still trying to find ways to cope

[@dominikazupan9330]

You can do it, do everything in your power to put yourself in the first place. You can throw away the dress if you think that would help you. Stay strong :))

[@Justasykoseashell]

You can do this. I highly recommend burning the dress. It's kind of cathartic.

[@kaytlynnhines4017]

Bonfire. Burn the dress and cry girl! It helps. Make sure to have a close sister with you to hold you

[@ede828]

you can do this, sometimes strong is waking up every morning xx

[@tingtong7425]

I am sorry. You are so strong, I cant possibly understand what it is like but I am proud of you.

[@theob5923]

"do you know how long it took me to say anything at all?" damn.

[@erinhensler8884]

Just the fact that we refer to them as “survivors” should be a red light, because it means that there are some who weren’t survivors

[@radiantriley1689]

“Watch me build an empire from the ashes of everything that tried to destroy me”

[@elizab9217]

I miss her poem “fuckboys” wish it was still on the channel

[@elizab9217]

Gabi Ramos no idea :(

[@sapphicdandeliongirl]

PSA Blythe asked button to take it down

[@janepansegrouw4360]

Musictkd16 whyy it was so good

[@ambergurley5637]

I miss it too!!!

[@vivianiloabuchi2435]

Something about the title being just for the black community..

[@meridianoneill3235]

“When I talk about my trauma, Iam not asking you to carry it or relieve me from it. I am just asking for it not to be too heavy for a conversation. This experience takes up so much space inside of me.”

[@shawnlyons7206]

“I’m just asking for it not to be too heavy for a conversation, this experience takes so much space inside of me.” It’s great line

[@abigailheh6545]

From ages 7-11, it ended when he traveled and moved to Hawaii. Nobody understands why I cry when they touch me, when I say not to touch me, why I shake with fear when they just continue.

[@sammielewis219]

Beautiful. Please never stop writing about this! Please never stop talking about this! You are so brave. You are so strong. - from another young poet that has been sexually abused.

[@mrs.unknown1432]

Sammie Lewis I'm so sorry for you , you probably don't want people trying to forgive someone else's sins but know that you are stronger than them , know that you can help stop sexual assault , finally know that your loved.

[@sammielewis219]

Thank you so much. That's very sweet of you. I am doing the best I can.

[@mrs.unknown1432]

I'm glad to hear that , you have a blessed life and my luck come your way

[@trinhsformerz]

i immediately liked the video when i clicked on it. when you see blythe baird, you know it's going to be good.

[@samantacastillo8905]

Same

[@annaannaanna480]

So true

[@heiressafalava]

same

[@radiantriley1689]

Transcript In response to the old dudes who made KZbin videos complaining that I write to many poems about rape. I know you think that I talk too much. I know you don’t think this is what a pleasant survivor is supposed to sound like. I know you are threatened because I am a thunder storm of a woman with so much to say. Do you know how long it took me to say anything at all? Sometimes I worry I write too much about assault. I worry this is too heavy a burden to talk about. I worry I am putting too much responsibility on you, the listener. But when I talk about my trauma, I’m not asking you to carry it or relieve me from it. I’m just asking for it not too be too heavy for a conversation. This experience takes up so much space inside of me and this stage is the only place I can let this trauma live outside of my body. There is no socially acceptable time or place to talk about rape. I realize this at a party I didn’t want to be at, dizzyingly drunk. Someone asks how I’m doing and his name spills from my mouth to a puddle of vomit on the floor and I apologize, and apologize, and apologize until the host says “shoot girl, is sorry the only word you know how to say?” Suddenly, I am the embarrassed girl crying in the bathroom at the party because I made the mistake of speaking about what happened to me in what was supposed to be a happy occasion. I am afraid to wear my recovery too public. I have noticed that people only stopped calling me victim and started calling me survivor when I stopped talking about it. And I have stopped bringing flowers to the grave of the teenager I used to be. Back when I had orchids in my hair and polka dots on my shoes, bubbling over with light. I used to refuse to wear the dress I was assulated in. I used to imagine it draped in a sash of caution tape because it was the only witness. I threw the underwear away. I didn’t want to write a statement or file a report. I wanted to take a shower. I wanted to scream my statement is that I stayed here in this body, but everyday I find new ways to heal. I wear the dress I was assaulted in and I don’t associate it with him just to remind myself that he doesn’t own a single fucking part of me. I found a way to heal through the poetry. This stage is the only place I could tell my story where it wasn’t a burden I was putting onto anyone. This stage is where I learned to stop hoarding my suffering and I can give a fuck about a slam score. This is me healing. This is me reclaiming ownership over my body. This is the only place I have control over the narrative and he cannot interupt me. Even though trauma has a way of becoming the wallpaper of my head. Watch me drag the art from my suffering. Watch me plant seeds down my spine and bloom into a garden of poetry from every horrible thing that ever happened to me. Every night my voice turned into cement and I couldn’t say anything. Watch me build an empire from the ashes of every single thing that ever tried to destroy me.

[@sierracollins1383]

You go girl, and you keep going. You are so strong and your comment encouraged me to be strong too. Thank you.

[@mickeyp6639]

"I know you are threatened because I am a thunder storm of a woman with so much to say. " jesus h christ feel like I'm in middle school english class.

[@kathxcake]

as if admitting you were raped wasn't the hardest thing in the world. another amazing work blythe. never, ever stop. love your words and your willingness to share.

[@gracep.1549]

I was raped by my step sister and then years later my stepdad. It went on for years, I thought I did something to provoke them. I struggle with bad flashbacks and self harm. I’ve tried to kill myself many times. I’m stronger now tho, your poetry helps me. It makes me feel like I’m not alone, and all of this his so relatable.

[@hisgirl041109]

[@skyboschen]

When I'm crying over everything that's happened to me I search for anything with Blythe's name on it💖

[@ButtonPoetry]

Tune into our livestream tonight, 8PM CST: kzbin.infolive

[@nayely2]

!!!!!

[@shawnlyons7206]

I’ve watched like 5 of these and I cried the most to this one

[@ErenDavis-uw8uk]

As I survivor I love how Blythe talks about it people need to know it still happens

[@hopehigley4756]

Blythe and these comments helped me to finally get on stage and perform one my poems. I got to the poetry slam and saw that my brother was there. I was going to perform a rape poem that I wrote, but that also meant I would be telling my brother and sister in law about what happened to me, and nobody in family knew up to this point. I took my name off the sign up list, but somehow worked up the courage to go up last minute when they made the last call for any poets who still wanted to perform. I was shaking and nearly crying but I delivered my poem. I got voted as the top performer, (though I didn’t do it for the competition) I did it to express myself and share my experiences. Afterwards an older women came up to me and she told me that I had brought up a lot of old memories for her. We cried together, hugged, and she told me she loved me. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I’m glad I did it. It was surreal. Thanks Blythe, for your courage and the inspiration that you’ve given me over the years.

[@acommonbagel2936]

Yes, honey. Speak about the things that people say make them uncomfortable. Speak about the things that there will never be a good time and place for. Because once you start speaking, then they have to hear it, and that makes us all one step closer to getting used to hearing it. And the next time they hear it, they are not so surprised. That's how you change people.

[@nicolebacon2747]

+

[@nataliejohnson7991]

Poems are a healthy way of expressing the things that haunt you. I wish I had the courage to talk about what I’ve experienced

[@nataliejohnson7991]

My dress is my only whiteness

[@aut_777]

MY POETRY MOM

[@abigailamundsen2191]

I still have the blood stained shirt and pants from my third assault and the shirt from the second. The dress from the first was sent to a lab and never returned which is fine with me. I have been assaulted by four different men and the four was a long-term problem. I never got justice for any of the attacks.

[@lilianreyfarias4547]

i hope that we all heal soon.

[@querque3860]

Silence=Complicity Keep talking! Say it ALL! Say it as loudly and as often as you need and want to. You are powerful!! I wish you healing.

[@thedoorman8570]

I love her so much honestly I'm going to use one of her poems for my interpretation in Speech and Debate 💜💜💜

[@mrs.unknown1432]

Emberglade A. YAASSSSS

[@calaneeodell4277]

Emberglade A. I used one of her pieces last year and so did two of my team mates lmao

[@blakejohnson9483]

I use pocket sized feminism, skirt steak girls and girl code 101

[@carolynsingh1438]

I can’t get enough of you!!! All of your poems take my breath away!!!

[@mcrose540]

"i wear it to remind myself he does not own a fking part of me" that hit home

[@emmaree9581]

She is amazing and I’m glad she’s speaking out about this. People just need to stop being sensitive about this and address it.

[@emilyconnelly8181]

She is so good. She inspired me to start writing poetry.

[@SistaSista179]

I’m in tears ,that was beautiful!

[@xxallie_harmonxx7498]

I appreciate that you make these poems

[@patiencevorhees3567]

You have helped me so much with you poems I am 15 I was assaulted two years ago I thank you for writing and telling the poems you do it helped me so much with being fine about talking about what happend to me

[@stefanmccrossan6727]

As a survivor I love you ❤️- really felt this .. especially the changing and burning of clothes ... x

[@pancakes15]

Sometimes I wonder if I should tell my mom that her "lover" is rapeing me, I don't know how to tell her, it's not love he's showing you it's abuse and it hurts like hell, sometimes when I sit alone and I finally let myself be me I want to scream, but I know I'll get hurt if I do, I don't understand how my mom who I thought I could trust became abusive to fit into his mold

[@jennifertodd4293]

It's important that you tell someone so you can get help! That isn't ok

[@andromedagalaxy21]

Please tell her or anyone who can get you out of that situation. I really hope you will stay strong forever. 💛 Please get some help.

[@kathihilbring8108]

She is my absolute inspiration and i hope to see her live someday. Keep going girl! You are amazing!

[@mamafox5118]

Her poetry has helped me heal. She reminds me I'm not alone.

[@gratedcheese2466]

dropped everything I was doing when I got this notification. she is so raw and so beautifully vulnerable

[@actuallyjendaya]

I am crying so hard rn💘💘

[@conorgilsenan3821]

Why

[@LesleighHart]

Thank you for speaking for me.

[@Truebatwoman]

“Even though trauma has a way of becoming the wallpaper of my head watch me drag the art from my suffering. Watch me plant seeds down my spine and bloom into a garden of poetry from every horrible thing that ever happened to me. Every night my voice turned into cement and I couldn’t say anything. Watch me build an empire from the ashes of every single thing that ever tried to destroy me.” Fucking powerful

[@paintchipsfromthewal]

Bless you I needed to hear this today.

[@mirashards2867]

It is true that you can only talk about these things in this form.

[@ohpaperbacks5195]

For some people, yeah.

[@acedecker7123]

Yeah, if you’re a survivor, it’s hard to find a place to vent. Just like I wrote about my emotional abuse, the stage is a place where everyone listens.

[@conan4real]

you can talk about them in other forms too though

[@arrowbutterfly3207]

I hope she doesn’t stop because her rape poems really help me

[@torriemarstall2664]

I need Blythe’s art, thank you.

[@heardx4645]

im crying.

[@122jazzyb]

Thank u. Never stop telling your story snd sharing your trauma do mzny if us don't have the confidence to do fhar

[@ButtonPoetry]

Thank you for listening!

[@minhamariyam1299]

"Watch me build an empire from the ashes of every single thing that ever tried to destroy me"

[@maryrfln]

"Do you know how long it took me to say anything at all?" That just fucking hit home.

[@haileygalbraith6260]

Thank you.

[@bqwadseertg]

Wow. Yet another incredible poem by Blythe!!!!

[@sarahmayroman1232]

"i didnt want to write a statement, or file a report, i wanted to take a shower."

[@ajulan10]

This hit hard yeah

[@roo349]

Love her so much!! Been waiting for another amazing poem! ❤️

[@AlexisKatee]

Blythe always gets me in my feels.

[@mawutorakakpo6889]

This poem speaks for me so much

[@Lexi-cs6ne]

She’s such an amazing poet. I love her so much. ♥️

[@TheSuperEvilapple]

Here i am in tears as usual

[@sarahroosa2060]

She's amazing

[@onessisgarza9035]

“I know you don’t think this is what a pleasent survivor is suppose to sound like... do you know how long it took me to say anything at all?...

[@jarenjohnson7038]

All lot of times the most heavy topics to talk about just must be said out loud, no matter what or who. And specifically if it just happened. So you get whatever it takes. You go and scream your poems out loud and clear u are a STAR. PERIOD.

[@lylykimnguyen]

When you click the thumbs up before you even watch the video because you already know how great all of her poems are

[@MickiMarple]

I love this!! Please don’t even be afraid to be authentically yourself. You help me so much

[@S.Winddancer]

Thank you for this poem!

[@maleahwhittaker6806]

Goosebumps

[@ronniejackson9544]

Thank you for talking about things were afraid to. I don't think you talk about it to much I think you talk about it a perfect amount and other girls don't talk about it enough so thank you xxx

[@FirstnameLastname-wr9ux]

It's so powerful I was raped for 1 year again again by my father when I was 14. I don't understand why people say that rape is funny, maybe there opinion will changed if it happened to them.

[@Max-py8uh]

I have never cried so fucking hard. I love this more than anything.

[@Tofubeetch]

So powerfull 🙌🏼🖤

[@moss4605]

I..was in my school uniform...for that next three years I had to wear it and live with him....its been 7 years since the frist time(my brain is blocking many memories was a way to cope idk what is called but that's when we tracked it back to I was 7) ...4 year almost 5(I'm 15 turning 16 soon) without him in my life physically...I was just able to wear a skirt without shaking alot and having the urge to throw up...it gets better just takes more time than you want it to be

[@mightbeavampire]

dude im so sorry i hope things get so much better and keep getting better

[@thatgirl9938]

Completely breaking down tonight the one thing that made me feel better is her videos

[@ninagadson4861]

That's how I feel like fr I got chills every minute...every minute

[@wassupilikegoodvibes1880]

I just love Blythe, i aspire to write like her.

[@mrs.unknown1432]

Wassup, iLikeGoodVibes same

[@jasper5173]

I love this poem so much

[@anshrajahan4135]

More power to you

[@aidanbolduc1735]

Please keep writing. Fuck anyone who tells you that you're talking about it too much. You are one of the poets who gave me the courage to speak my own truth. Please keep speaking yours. As always, this is amazing.

[@dini1367]

*Blythe Baird, you are a hero, a fuckin queen. Your poems are so inspiring and you deliver them every time. I have nothing but respect for you.*

[@marwanaser5452]

Love her poetry

[@whatgenderami]

this poem gave me chills. all of her poems do. thank you for sharing and continuing to talk about it even when people misguidedly try to advise you otherwise.

[@kinnabinna]

Before I even watch the video I love Blythe and her poems.

[@caralynemurphy7973]

My favorite poet by far. Insanely moving every damn time

[@TheBeautifulAryan]

Thankyou for this Blythe

[@winnielmao]

I’ve not been raped but. I’ve been assaulted yknow. And my mom once told me “If you’d stayed around your dad any longer he would’ve done something to you.” And she was right. The letters he sent me from prison and the way he talked to me and touched me when we would see each other. I realized. It wasn’t how a dad should touch his child.

[@Boolievard]

Why is she so beautiful

[@catieneff9679]

Your'e helping others heal, I can't even bring myself to watch my favorite show because he pretended to want to watch it wit me. I'm going to reclaim the things I loved, my favorite shorts and shirt that he ruined

[@livbrooks4194]

Incredible. As always

[@sleepdoesnotexist.14]

WHO THE HELL IS DISLIKING THESE VIDEOS?!?!?!?!.....masterpiece....

[@madisondarby4938]

rapists..

[@MarinaDoulis]

This is so powerful. Can't help but think of Brenna Twohy's poem.

[@christalcavanaugh]

There are many videos where she looks quite a lot thinner and I can’t help but think about how I gained 60 pounds after a grown man threatened to rape me when I was fifteen. I haven’t been sexually assaulted since I was 150 pounds. I made myself as unattractive as possible to protect myself. I have become Medusa; hideous but safe. I never “recovered” from anorexia. I forced myself to eat to avoid men’s hands.

[@Sukiamia]

YES BLYTHE